Suggestions for big loach species

[Hybridfish7]

Helping friend with a southeast asian monster tank, he currently just has a giant gourami and tinfoil barbs in it. He would like to stick to southeast asia in terms of future tank mates. Not sure how big the tank is exactly, but from what I can see, all I can say is more than adequate. Any large loaches or other bottom feeders he can safely have with everything?

 

[Niki_up]

I think your best bet for figuring out the tank gallons is taking the depth, width, and length measurements and post them up before people start suggesting fish for you.
I’m not sure on the tank requirements for a GG but I do know they get large and require more than 180g (though I’m not positive on their requirement for tank size)

maybe 12 Volt Man could help as he has one named Charlie that is gigantic, or esoxlucius might be able to help as he has one (I forget his name) that he pets like a puppy

 

[esoxlucius]

When my GG and tinfoil barbs were 3" long my 180g looked huge, "more than adequate", as you say.

However, trust me, that changes very very quickly. I don't know what the actual size of your friends tank is but before we can responsibly help you any further it would be beneficial if we knew how many gallons and the footprint of his current tank.

This is my 360g by the way, and I now consider it too small. A 500g would have been better.

 

[Hybridfish7]

The tinfoils he has are around 6 inches and the gourami is about a foot long and the tank looks roomy, just for reference, I'll try to get an exact measurement soon

 

[Fishman Dave]

None of those fish will bother loaches but probably best to go for the larger growing ones such as clowns or the royals if you can get hold of them or the more boisterous ones such as eos but that may not be exactly region exact. Alternative of course are a number of catfish varieties.

 

[Deadeye]

How big do eos get? I was under the impression they only got 4 inches or so, which could be bite size.
Would the large tiger loaches work? I know they are aggressive but definitely good size wise. Or the classic clown loach.

 

[FLA]

Clown loach isn't exactly a small loach, and they are great in groups. If I was looking for a large loach I would go with the royal clowns Leptobotia elongata. They really fit the bill. The other option though not a true loach I really like high fin banded loaches. Tank size will really help this conversation. The tiger botia suggestion is a good one as well

 

[SourAngelfish]

He’s asking about my tank as he’s pretty insistent on me getting loaches lol, growing out in a 180 but am moving up to a 3 by 6 350 after Christmas.

 

[SourAngelfish]

Clown loach isn't exactly a small loach, and they are great in groups. If I was looking for a large loach I would go with the royal clowns Leptobotia elongata. They really fit the bill. The other option though not a true loach I really like high fin banded loaches. Tank size will really help this conversation. The tiger botia suggestion is a good one as well

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I’ve had my eye on royal clowns, I think that would be an awesome species.

 

[Stephen St.Clair]

Dont forget to look at the Y. Modesta Botia. They are the middle linebackers of the Loach species. Lol.