Suggestions on cool and interesting small loaches?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Gypsylion

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 19, 2006
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Dec: St. Louis, Jan: Boston!
For my planted community setup...

I'm definitely going to be looking for some sid-the-monkeys (aka the dwarf chained loach, Botia sidthimunki), maybe a yo-yo or three. And I'd LOVE to find more Aborichthys sp.! They're like little SW gobys or blennys - so great! I'm, personally, not that into corys, except maybe the little pandas or juliis, though they didn't ever do very well in my last tank...

What are YOUR favorite small-and-more-rare loaches?
 
I'm not sure how you'd call some loaches rare.;) Maybe Botia kubotai, Botia almorhae, Chromobotia macracantha and Botia rostrata.:)
 
For me you can't beat yo-yos for personality, but there are a lot of loaches out there to choose from so...
 
Aye, what a shame! I didn't see the label that you want small loaches.:D Ignore the Chromobotia macracantha. They can grow to 12 inches in a few years.

Chain loach, kuhli loach, kubotai, almorhae and rostrata for me.:)

A word of warning: Some loaches will leave bite marks on your plants particularly the almorhae.
 
Saw some chain loaches today at LFS, they were tiny, but good looking little fellas
 
qumqats;623495; said:
Skunk Loaches stay pretty small. However they're rather agressive as loaches go.

How big is your tank?

Will be a planted 40 or 55, but I am officially evermore staying away from skunks... since my last one killed two of my angels! The angel that survived we named "gimpy" b/c he was missing fins for about 2 wks until they healed and grew back. :) Actually - the bigger one in my avatar is Gimpy, in all his re-grown splendor. In the skunk's defense, he only got vicious after his buddy died. I think with at least two, preferably more, they can play well with others all right. They look so deceptively adorable! Like gremlins.

I think I am indeed leaning towards a little "herd" of Sids (Y. sidthimunki) or possibly the B. kubotai. Though I just read that the sids are listed! Are they bred in captivity for the pet trade or is it common for them to still be wild-caught? Anybody know?

(And it appears that Kottelat reclassified them in 2004 as Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki...)
 
i have yoyos and those are great,but i also have a tiger loach in my other tank.hes also pretty cool but he hides alot

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thebestincali2000 nice picture, but it looks like your tank is long overdue for a cleaning.
 
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