additional tankmates for my dwarf chain loaches

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Golddenim
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:22 pm

additional tankmates for my dwarf chain loaches

Post by Golddenim » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:40 pm

I'm looking to add some additional fish to my 95 gallon wave tank. By far my favorite fish in this tank are my 7 dwarf chain loaches, who have also been in the tank longer than any other fish. I try to by all of my fish locally, so below is the list of fish I have seen in stock recently at local fish stores. Does anyone have any opinions on which fish would make the best tankmates for the loaches?

dwarf neon rainbows, marci rainbows, lake kutubu rainbows, ottocinclus, tiger barbs, yellow labidochromis cichlid, roseline shark

If there are other fish you would recommend, please feel free. I have not had good luck with neon or serpae tetras.

My tank is 95 gallons, 48" long, 24" high, and between 18" and 24" deep. The temperature is about 79 degrees fahrenheit, with a fluval canister filter providing a decent current. It is currently stocked as follows:
7 dwarf chain loaches, 4 siamensis, 4 amano shrimp, 2 ottocinclus, 1 albino bristlenose pleco, 1 dwarf neon rainbow, 3 lake kutubu rainbows.

I'm also not opposed to adding more loaches, though the ones at the store are rather young, about 3/4 inch long. Would there be an issue mixing the different ages/sizes of loaches?

Thanks in advance for the input.

Diana
Posts: 4675
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:35 am
Location: Near San Franciso

Post by Diana » Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:25 pm

No to the yellow Labs, they are an aggressive fish that thrives in very hard water. Not at all a fish to combine with Loaches.
The others have possibilities, but I would avoid Tiger Barbs on general principles. Too nippy, though your tank is large enough to get a big enough school. They might keep to themselves.
The Rainbows are a better bet. Most species are highly active and will handle a wide range of water chemistry.
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/
Have a look here for the best Rainbow for your tank conditions.
Otos are good for algae, or a couple of Bristlenose Plecos are good, you might even get a pair to breed.
The Roseline Shark is good in large enough numbers. In small numbers I have been warned they can be sort of mean to each other. Again, a larger tank is better, these guys get pretty big, and are very active. 95 gallons is great!
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.

Happy fish keeping!

starsplitter7
Posts: 5054
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:04 pm
Location: Tampa, Florida

Post by starsplitter7 » Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:26 pm

I would recommend adding more otos. They love a big group. And I am sure they would thrive in your tank.

I've never had problems adding smaller loaches to bigger loaches as long as it is a social species. Are there other fish that would bother the small Sids?

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