Why do you like loaches?

The forum for the very best information on loaches of all types. Come learn from our membership's vast experience!

Moderator: LoachForumModerators

Post Reply
MultipleTankSyndrome
Posts: 124
Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2021 11:07 am
Location: Loachaholica

Why do you like loaches?

Post by MultipleTankSyndrome » Sun Mar 20, 2022 3:46 pm

As the thread title says, why do you like loaches?

I like them for their colorful patterns, variety between species, activity, social nature, unusual behaviors (eg: playing dead), inquisitiveness, relative ease of care, and compatibility with many species. No other type of fish that I am aware of has all of these attributes at once.
473 liter - pictus catfish, smallscale archerfish, planned pumpkinseed sunfish
110 liter - green neon+cardinal tetras
473 liter - roseline sharks, striped kuhli+black kuhli+Burmese loaches, zebra/weather/neon kuhli loaches (planned)

Bas Pels
Posts: 360
Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:08 am

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by Bas Pels » Mon Mar 21, 2022 3:34 am

I wonder whether loaches are really easy to care for, but that aside.

I like their sillyness. I have heard fish from the catfish familly Trichomisteridia (most likely misspelled) from South America have a similar behaviour, but I never kept them. Never had the opportunity

MultipleTankSyndrome
Posts: 124
Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2021 11:07 am
Location: Loachaholica

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by MultipleTankSyndrome » Mon Mar 21, 2022 5:18 pm

Yes, I believe it is Trichomycteridae.

1000% agreed on the silliness, don't know why I didn't mention it. Kuhli loaches dancing up and down the height of the tank followed by curling up all together in a writhing mass, or Botia loaches toying with each other on an almost continuous basis, for example, are some of the best representations of it.

Would be intriguing to see catfish behave like such. I know of no catfish species that has similar behavior to that/\.
473 liter - pictus catfish, smallscale archerfish, planned pumpkinseed sunfish
110 liter - green neon+cardinal tetras
473 liter - roseline sharks, striped kuhli+black kuhli+Burmese loaches, zebra/weather/neon kuhli loaches (planned)

User avatar
Cockroach
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:03 pm
Location: Taiwan
Contact:

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by Cockroach » Mon May 30, 2022 10:21 pm

All fish have adaptations and "cool" aspects. Could be size, fins or color.
But when it comes to loaches and gobies, I feel someone spent a bit more time making them just a little more interesting in terms of physiology and behavior.
From social dynamics and hierarchies, to feeding in shoals and playing. They do seem to have heaps of character.
In addition to this is their unique adaptations that make them specialists in their niche environments such as thriving in rapids, climbing water falls etc.
Even the way botias click while feeding is fascinating.
Multiple Sewellia species breeding tanks
Dwarf chain loach and mixed loach paludarium
Clown loach, Yoyo Loach river tank
Rhinogobius, gastro's, panda garra and other loaches/gobies.

loachlover4482
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2022 2:06 pm

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by loachlover4482 » Mon Oct 10, 2022 12:03 pm

Probably because they are fun to watch. I mean they are not my favorite fish, but they really have unique personalities.

User avatar
Loach
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:39 pm

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by Loach » Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:52 pm

Their antics and their cool looking stripes of course.

User avatar
redshark1
Posts: 585
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:58 am
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, Great Britain.

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by redshark1 » Fri Dec 02, 2022 3:34 am

As a Yorkshireman brought up to appreciate value for money, I see long life as another valuable characteristic.

My current six Clown Loaches, which I purchased once I'd settled down to live in a permanent residence, are 28 years of age and they have given no trouble since arriving with Whitespot (Ich) of which they were cured.

Not many large tropical fish retain so much colour, even if they do not have the vibrancy of juveniles in their later life.

Their social nature means you can keep an interactive family of them which is great to watch due to their fascinating behaviour, yet there are no problems of breeding and overpopulation which can be a difficulty with other fish at times.

They are good feeders and eat everything so this presents no difficulty and they can have a varied high quality diet.

You don't need to have an expensive or technical setup to keep them. Tap water will usually be fine. I have quite a basic six foot setup with a single heater, undergravel filtration driven by powerheads and T8 lights but it works perfectly for me. My aquarium and equipment dates from the 1970s and I've been keeping Clown Loaches since that time.

If I were restricted to a smaller tank I would have no disappointment in keeping Dwarf Chain Loach which although lacking bright colours exhibit all the other owner satisfaction attributes, just in miniature in my experience. Doubtless many other species would make the grade though I haven't kept them.
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.

ChanelLeuschke
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:26 pm

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by ChanelLeuschke » Thu Jan 05, 2023 4:45 am

Their mischief and, of course, their stylish stripes. basketball stars

zgleason
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:36 am

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by zgleason » Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:33 am

Their cool-looking stripes and antics are just two of their many charms. geometry dash

Fieldfare
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2023 1:41 am

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by Fieldfare » Wed Feb 22, 2023 11:39 am

Hard to explain, their faces are all very cute and I love their overall shape. I think the shape of an animal makes it incredibly cute to me. I'm not that interested in mammals for that reason.

KellyP
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2022 3:47 pm

Re: Why do you like loaches?

Post by KellyP » Fri Jun 02, 2023 6:17 am

Loaches have fascinating behavior. They exhibit a variety of interesting behaviors, such as burrowing, scavenging, and interacting with their environment. Some species are known for their playful antics, like the popular clown loach, which can be seen darting around and engaging in social interactions with other loaches.

Seasafe[size] Tip Top Roofing[size]

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 110 guests