Loaches for Planted Tank (warning: newbie question!)

[Birds'nBunny]

Hi Loach People,
I have a planted 46 gallon tank that's currently stocked with a pair of Blue Rams, 5 Neons, and 6 Clown Killies.

I would really like to add a small school of loaches. I've been looking at B. Striata. Is a 46 gallon large enough to accomodate 5 - 6 adults? Would Sids be a better choice, given the size of my tank?

Also, can anyone tell me how either of these will behave with plants? Do they actually eat them? Or do they just enjoy doing their own "aquascaping?"

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Diana]

Larger Loaches can dig so energetically that they uproot the plants. Smaller Loaches tend not to do that, though they also burrow under the substrate.

In that size tank most of the smaller Loaches would work.

[Birds'nBunny]

Thanks for your help Diana. I knew you would post a helpful answer for me!

Just to clarify, are B. Striata considered small loaches? Any other small loaches that you particularly favor? I'm looking for cuteness and a fun personality

[Diana]

For a 46 gallon striata would work very well. Mine seem to almost always be out and about.
I suspect they were eating some Endler fry, though.

[Birds'nBunny]

That's great to hear. Thanks again for the info.
I have been wanting loaches since I started keeping fish last year. I can't wait to get them.

[helen nightingale]

i find my striata well behaved and certainly very cute. they can be a bit on the shy side, although saying that, my largest one is boss of the tank, so that can also be quite bold, but not normaly nasty. you will have fun withthem. they dont seem to have the reputation that the clowns do of ripping up plants, and they will apppreciate the places to hide