Blyth's Loach

[sunshinehippy]

I just bought a Blyth's loach (not knowing what it was) from the LFS for my semi peaceful SA/CA cichlid community (severum, sajicas, EBJD, congo tetras, siamese algae eaters x 2) and the guys at the shop couldn't tell me anything about it. So I observed its behaviour in the tank it was housed in with some large barb type fish and the only thing it was having a go at was its own species and not all of them appeared aggressive anyway. So I kind of thought that it would be OK with my lot. Disaster strikes when I get home and read the write up about them!!!

Do you think I should take it back? At the moment it is being bullied by the severum and is not bothering anything and actually seems a bit shy, but I am worried that this will change! The sev is about 4.5" and the length of the loach is about 4".

 

[Lupin]

I keep Syncrossus species with large to medium sized barbs but that's it. I would advise against mixing them with cichlids especially your mild mannered severum just to be on the safe side. Tiger loaches have been known to harass their tankmates nonstop.

 

[sunshinehippy]

Update on the loach - it has been really docile, has not harrassed any other fish and just gets on with its business. It hasnt even had a go at the 2.5" siamese algae eater. I know this may change but for now it all looks good.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

if you are going to keep it with cichlids, I wouldn't go with such mild mannered types like severums. Then again, if you go on the more aggressive end, even a small species like salvini will probably manhandle the loach