hi all just a few Qs about what loache to get

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F

fishperson

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 24, 2010
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san diego
hello all MFK"S

I have a 20 gall tank with some red tetras,peppered and emerald corys, and just got a small swordtail from a friend and was looking at my tank and thought i need something with some more tropical look so i looked around and found loaches were pretty good looking but i thuoght u guys would know better but 1 i really like is the Botia Robusta loache but i only want one so best be independent and not a ick addict oh and with some stripes would be good to so thx for any info

:newbie:s rule
 
fishperson;4034744; said:
hello all MFK"S

I have a 20 gall tank with some red tetras,peppered and emerald corys, and just got a small swordtail from a friend and was looking at my tank and thought i need something with some more tropical look so i looked around and found loaches were pretty good looking but i thuoght u guys would know better but 1 i really like is the Botia Robusta loache but i only want one so best be independent and not a ick addict oh and with some stripes would be good to so thx for any info

:newbie:s rule
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From what I've read about Botia Robusta, it could work in your setup. The 20 gallon may be a little on the small side when it is full-frown though.

Definitely stay away from Clowns (Botia Macracanthus). I know you didn't mention them, but I thought it was worth saying anyway. They look cool, but you need a minimum of 5 of them, your tank is far too small for them long-term, and they are prone to ich.
 
Zebra Loach (botia Striata) max 4" or Botia Almorhae (yoyo loach) max 6" those would be good for quite a long time. They grow extremely slow and if that 20g you have is the "long" version all the better.

All loaches are susceptible to Ich because of their small scales. Just keep the water clean with regular water changes.
 
get 4-5 kuhli loaches imo
 
Fractal;4034980; said:
Zebra Loach (botia Striata) max 4" or Botia Almorhae (yoyo loach) max 6" those would be good for quite a long time. They grow extremely slow and if that 20g you have is the "long" version all the better.

All loaches are susceptible to Ich because of their small scales. Just keep the water clean with regular water changes.
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I wouldn't recommend yoyo loaches unless you're going to get a few of them. If you get 3-4 of them, they will 'fight' each other, but leave your other fish alone. If you only get one or two, the harassment wont be contained within the loach clan. This is why yoyos have a bad reputation for fin nipping and harassing other fish.
 
Actually I have 3 Yoyos in a 30g with some other fish. I have never seen them actually nip, although I have seen them harass fish. The dominant one in the pack will occaasionally chase my Ctenopoma or my Flying Fox (the Flying Fox is one tough SOB, he could really care less, and they so rarely bother the Cten that it's barely even an issue) but no actual biting. However, the Ctenopoma is 2.5" and the Flying Fox is 3"... I wouldn't trust Yoyos with your Tetras or with Cories... especially not Cories. To active, and they occupy the same quadrant.

Whew, I ranted. If anyone is doing a thesis on Yoyo Loaches, feel free to plagiarize :ROFL:

I would get Striata (Zebra) Loaches or Dwarf Loaches... 3 or 4 Striatas, or maybe, 7 or 8 Dwarfs.
 
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