Loaches Online Forum

ok, so I'm getting a golden dojo loach on tuesday and I have a few questions. First, will it be ok in my ten gallon freshwater tank? Second, could I keep him with my 1 dwarf puffer? Are they just albino khuli loaches? I have heard u can keep khulis with dwarf puffers and the dojos dont seem much different except in color. And last, what kind of tank set up would be best and any general tips or things i need to know. Thanks every one.

Hi corey236. Welcome to Loaches Online

Our home page will connect you to these pages >>

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/we ... licaudatus

http://www.loaches.com/articles/weather-report

corey236 wrote:ok, so I'm getting a golden dojo loach on tuesday and I have a few questions. First, will it be ok in my ten gallon freshwater tank? Second, could I keep him with my 1 dwarf puffer? Are they just albino khuli loaches? I have heard u can keep khulis with dwarf puffers and the dojos dont seem much different except in color. And last, what kind of tank set up would be best and any general tips or things i need to know. Thanks every one.

For a single Dojo you'd probably want no less than a 30g for when its full grown. There shouldn't be a problem keeping it with the puffer, although you don't really want to get singles of any fish species, both of these fish would do better in groups of 3 or more. Dojo Loaches, also known as Weather Loaches, are a completely different species from Khuli Loaches. You'll want a soft substrate that the dojo can root around in. They also like to have several hiding spots, as well as plants they can lay on.

Why a 30? They are bottom feeders righ, so doesnt it just have to be long enough? I can only have a 10 gallon because i stay in the dorms at college, what kind of loach could i get that looks snake-like like the dojo?

If you're restricted to such a small tank, loaches are probably not the right fish at this point. All loaches require a surprising amount of space, and nearly all of them need to be kept in small groups. You also have to consider their need for high oxygen levels and temperature issues. Dojo's need cooler water than kuhlis, for instance.

I'd get some nice tetras or other small fish for this small tank. If you can go up to 30 gallons, then there are some small loaches that will work.

Could I keep a khuli in the ten? They only get like 4 inches.

Personally, i'd keep shrimps or snails in a 10 gallon.

You could, but it's really not optimal for them. Again, they like to be in groups, and keeping just one is not recommended. They spend a lot of time in hiding during the day, but they're energetic swimmers at night, and require more space than that.

I think it's best to look at what you can provide, and then select fish that can deal with your restrictions. Also, with any loaches, you need to commit to a fair amount of work at least once a week in water changes and keeping the muck from building up - and there are stories of kuhlis living for well over a decade, so it shouldn't be a casual decision.

I keep a small group of mixed kuhlis (10?) in a densely planted 30 gallon tank, and even then it can seem crowded when they all seek shelter in the same spot.

Can you keep a Betta in a 10g?

Some of these loaches only get like 2 inches, I gotta be able to keep some kind...What kind of snake-like loach could I get and keep in my ten gallon tank? There has to be something.

It doesn't matter if a loach species gets to 'only 2 inches' - they still require a large footprint (length and width) in which to explore. A 10 gallon tank is not big enough for loaches long-term. Added to that, smaller tanks are more difficult to maintain stable conditions. You should look at some of the fancy shrimp species or Microrasboras for this tank.

Emma

The only bottom feeder/alage eater I can think of that would be ok in a 10 gallon is a couple of otos. Even small loaches are very active fish and really need plenty of swimming space. I've got hillstream loaches which are under 2 inches, and they cross my 3ft tank in about a second at full speed. If you're set on loaches, you'll find them much more active and entertaining in a big tank. If you're just after something interesting for a 10 gallon there's lots of other options. A few otos, some dwarf rasboras or white clouds and a few cherry or bubblebee shrimp would make a very nice tank.

I'd recommend otos and zebra otos myself. Put in a few plants, small cobbles, and a small piece of bogwood with some java moss tied around it and they should do fine and may even breed.

Otos have behavior similar to loaches so if you're dead set on loaches but can't accomodate, then Otos are perfect.

Not sure about corydoras catfish and whether they'd be ok in the 10 gallon tank but thats another fish that behaves somewhat like a loach...

10 is too small for loaches of any kind, I'm sorry to say.

There are only a couple of serpentine bodied loaches, which is commonly the Khuli and Dojo. There is no Serpentine shorter than 4 inches, and you never want less than 3 of any loach species. Sorry to say it, but a 10g just isn't up to snuff for loaches.

Whitey's idea would make a nice 10g. Small schooling fish and shrimp along with a piece of wood and java fern would be pretty, easy to care for and good for a college student on a budget.

I know what college is like. Lots going on. You don't want to have a demanding fish tank to take care of. With little cash this type of tank can be quite nice.

Enjoy your 10g, do a little research around here on loaches, and once you've gotten out of the dorms you'll know exactly what loaches will suit your next (larger) tank and how to care for them. When you're ready to set up a larger tank, your 10g will make an ideal quarantine tank.