Looking to Identify loaches, also advice
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 1:33 pm
Hello there and thank you for taking the time to read this. I am not a first time loach keeper. I keep a variety of fish and have always held loaches very close to my heart. Recently I've managed to acquire and get set up an 80 gallon tank. It is cloned from a 20 gallon, and has things brought over from my big 150 gallon. As I go about balancing out both tanks I have a few concerns that really need actual loach keeper's input on.
My first question pertains to the identification of some of the young loaches I brought home. I brought them home four at a time. So I have 8 of these guys happily running around the 80 gallon planted but some of them do not look anything like what they have advertised species wise on the tanks from the store. I am certain 2-4 of them are probably Yoyo Loaches. It's the other half that are in question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITCDeZFiGOE&hd=1 I tried to get some good video but they are still being a bit shy. You should see towards the middle better close up on the straight banded ones. Is it too young to tell what they are? Or can anyone properly ID them? I'd like to know what I have on my hands on what to expect.
My second question pertains to an all too well known issue. Many places simply do not get Golden Zebra Loach/Burmese Loach in very often. Back when I lost part of my Yoyo Shoal I was unable to find old enough yoyo's. (Cannot put babies in the big tank due to a baby eating fish). The pet store had these Burmese loach and they were pricey so I brought two home. Since then the two Burmese and the two yoyo get along great. My original idea was to put all four loach from the big tank into the 80 gallon when ready. I can get more drift wood in the future to accommodate them but will the 80 be too small for the Burmese? I thought about bringing just the two Yoyo over because they would benefit from the shoal but if the Burmese cannot go over too than I end up robbing the Burmese of the other two loaches they actively play with. I want advice to this. Do I keep it the same and leave the four over in the big tank? Do I split them up? Or will all four fit nicely in the 80 gallon.
The stock right now in the 80 is a Betta, 17 Harlequin Rasbora, 1 Peacock Ee1, and 8 juvenile loaches.
Again thank you for the time. If I need better video of the unknown loaches just let me know.
My first question pertains to the identification of some of the young loaches I brought home. I brought them home four at a time. So I have 8 of these guys happily running around the 80 gallon planted but some of them do not look anything like what they have advertised species wise on the tanks from the store. I am certain 2-4 of them are probably Yoyo Loaches. It's the other half that are in question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITCDeZFiGOE&hd=1 I tried to get some good video but they are still being a bit shy. You should see towards the middle better close up on the straight banded ones. Is it too young to tell what they are? Or can anyone properly ID them? I'd like to know what I have on my hands on what to expect.
My second question pertains to an all too well known issue. Many places simply do not get Golden Zebra Loach/Burmese Loach in very often. Back when I lost part of my Yoyo Shoal I was unable to find old enough yoyo's. (Cannot put babies in the big tank due to a baby eating fish). The pet store had these Burmese loach and they were pricey so I brought two home. Since then the two Burmese and the two yoyo get along great. My original idea was to put all four loach from the big tank into the 80 gallon when ready. I can get more drift wood in the future to accommodate them but will the 80 be too small for the Burmese? I thought about bringing just the two Yoyo over because they would benefit from the shoal but if the Burmese cannot go over too than I end up robbing the Burmese of the other two loaches they actively play with. I want advice to this. Do I keep it the same and leave the four over in the big tank? Do I split them up? Or will all four fit nicely in the 80 gallon.
The stock right now in the 80 is a Betta, 17 Harlequin Rasbora, 1 Peacock Ee1, and 8 juvenile loaches.
Again thank you for the time. If I need better video of the unknown loaches just let me know.