Speculation on Skunk Loaches and community tanks.

[Rocco]

As with different animals, it is sometimes the male that is aggressive and sometimes the female. This got me thinking and I have a few questions.

Which sex of loaches is more aggressive?

Now, there are some that have success with Skunk loaches in a community tank and some who have had disastrous results. I myself am having no trouble with the skunks so far.

Could the trick be in the ratio of male to female skunks?

I will continue to observe my hooligans and their interactions with their tank mates. So far, they even share the same crevices and sleep together.

ps. After treating my first tank with Levamisole, I decided to do some re-aquascaping. I'll post pictures soon

[shari2]

Can you tell the difference between male and female skunks?

[Rocco]

I can't. I was just speculating that I may have more of the less aggressive sex in my tank, if that even makes sense.

[Emma Turner]

How big are your 'hooligans', Rocco? Aggression often heightens with age/maturity.

Emma

[Graeme Robson]

Which other occupants do you have in your community set-up Rocco?

I keep my 10 Yasuhikotakia morleti in with other Yasuhikotakia species and various Syncrossus species. I know it's hard to judge the aggression levels with mine sharing the same environment with other larger aggressive species but these little chaps sure can hold there own in this aquarium.

The only way i assume the sex differences is when the female starts showing off a larger stomach area. I also don't really see any different aggression levels from either sex's, but they are as bad as each other in my observations. One of my females below.

[Blue]

I never had my luck mixing the skunks well. Last time, I had them in with my other loaches I found my two yoyos dead with bite marks.

[Vancmann]

I uses to have skunks and for their size, they are quite vicisous. I once had a large 150G tank with about 13 different species of loaches. The skunks did not do so well with the introduction of the eos's and the males soon died. One female remainded until she died from being swollen with eggs. My skunks never messed with my clowns which were much bigger.

[Rocco]

My skunks are still small. around 1.5" to 2"

They are currently kept with
6 3 - 4" clown loaches
3 3" kubotai
7 fully matured glow light tetras
2 6 - 8" Black ghost knifefish
a siamese algae eater and a bristlenose pleco.

I see them snuggling with the Kubs and Clowns.