estimates?

[mr white]

I was wondering if someone could estimate for me how large of a tank I'd need for the fish I'm about to list? I was thinking a 180g, but am I underestimating? A large tank will be possible in a few years, and I want to have all my fish in one as opposed to the three assorted ones they are currently in. also, if any of these fish are troublesome for another, please let me know (the sharks are living together in relative peace now, but that may change; also, one of my pictus beats up the other so I'm hoping a third will equalize the bullying). your best guess is much appreciated!

5 clown loaches
10 kuhli loaches
2 redfin sharks (one albino, if it matters)
3 pictus catfish
1 chinese algae eater (not staying if it causes trouble)
1 redtail black shark
1 horse face loach (possibly three if they become available)
5 cory catfish (dwarfs)

aaaaaaaaaand!! what size tank would be adequate for 5 dojo loaches?
thanks for your help.

[YellowFinned]

I was wondering if someone could estimate for me how large of a tank I'd need

As large as you can afford. And get a massive filter too.

Dump the CAE.

[mr white]

Dump the CAE.

I've heard that several times. but so far he hasn't caused me any grief, but he's young so I have no hopes. regardless, I shall stick him out and see, because I have read accounts of people who have had luck with CAEs. I bought him because I liked him, not because he'd eat algae. that's just kind of a temporary bonus... i also read they grew enormous. i thought they grew to 4 inches. O.O perhaps a rash purchase. I'd love a clown pleco too. all in all a 180 seems like it'd be good to me, but the best i can afford is my goal, the only other limit is space... seeing as I'll be living in a two bedroom apartment. gotta love college life.

[Emma Turner]

Unfortunately, that's going to be a far from ideal mix. Once the Pim pictus get to an adult size, they will take small fish (they have deceptively wide mouths) and I would fear for the Dwarf Corydoras (presumably you are proposing C. habrosus, C. hastatus etc?). Clown loaches prefer much more current to that of kuhli loaches, and once the redtail/ruby/albino sharks start to really mature, you will very likely encounter aggression related problems - you'd be better off keeping a solitary specimen.

Adult clown loaches will require a tank that measures at least 6ft x 2ft x 2ft, so you should bear that in mind with your future plans.

Emma

[mr white]

hmm... yeah, the cories are an assorted mix (I know one is a panda cory), and as far as they go I can get them a tank of their own, and for the sharks, well... perhaps enough hiding places will sort out aggression? I've heard that lots of different territories can solve that problem. and I have a 20 gallon, wouldn't kuhlis be okay in that?
i was also hoping that any tank i got would be a long tank anyway, so that's awesome. thanks for your help!

[newshound]

I would second Emma's concern!
Stick with a couple of RTS and with lots of plants divisions in the tank they with have areas divided up.
I think it is better to have a larger group of types of fish instead of a big mix of everything.
My zebra loaches stressed my small corys until one by one they died

[crazy loaches]

I've never had either but couldnt pictus eat kuhlies?

[Martin Thoene]

I would expect them to, yes.

Martin.

[bevans]

I have one RTS in a 55 gallon tank, and he bullies everything in it, though he doesn't harm them very much-just the occasional ripped fin. I put in lots of planted areas (not live plants) and bought lots of rock for hiding places and a piece of driftwood, hoping that it would help with his territorial issues, but nothing worked. I finally have gotten a 29 gallon tank specifically to move him into. I'm amazed yours aren't warring already, though I've heard on some forums that there is considerable variance in temperament in sharks and perhaps you've just been lucky.

And I too have a golden CAE, whom I've owned for about six months and is already almost four inches long. He was very small when I got him, and I'm beginning to wonder exactly how big he is going to get! He mixed it up with the RTS continuously, so that I had to put a heater in the goldfish tank and move him in with them. Not an ideal solution, but it's working so far. Like you, I simply like CAEs, and had good luck with them before. He didn't offer to hurt anyone but the shark, and I might put him back in with the livebearers at some point.

Sounds like your cories aren't really dwarf-I've got six habrosus, and they're TINY-I keep them with a pair of fancy guppies in a 10 gallon. They'd be a mouthful for anything else I own.

Short answer is, like the more experienced aquariasts here, it looks to me like you've got too much of a mixed bag to keep in one tank.

And just to make it fit on the loach forum, I'm appalled at the mental image of the pictus slurping down kuhlis like so many worms!

[mr white]

my pictus cats have never even tried to eat my kuhlis, but of course they're both rather young. regardless, i'd imagine that by the time the pictus cats get any bit big the kuhlis would have grown as well.
my sharks are also living in peace, although the biggest one will chase if anyone goes near his decoration.
hopefully a tank with well sorted territory will end all disputes.
my two pictus cats hate each other though, thinking adding another may help a bit. the fish I currently have out of that list are living together fine for now, but things will change I'm sure. hopefully I can find soem way to get away with two tanks then... an apartment bedroom doesn't allow too much space. thanks for the replies all!