okay what i under stand there a more aggressive botia but what i was asking is do they need to be kept in groups like clown loaches i'm not going to try and mix them with clowns
The problem is that even docile cichlids will have their fins ripped off and bitten everywhere else. Aggressive ones will likewise be attacked by these loaches as will they against the loaches. Either side loses so it is inadvisable to attempt at all costs to try both species in one tank.
planning on turning my 55 into a planted tank with some drift wood once i get my new tank the tiger would go in there and once it out grows it i would move it to the larger tank (hopefully a 180) which would have a few large cichlids with a few oddballs like polypterus and a tire track eel as we'll as a few catfish i may get a 75 gallon as we'll which i could pick tankmates that would work with the tiger botia
I thought I made it clear before that you cannot mix other fish regardless of the species other than the cyprinids that can readily escape their relentless attacks? Any catfish can have their eyes poke out or skin peeled off. I've witnessed this plenty of times already and repeatedly told off the employees not to try mixing both tiger loaches and plecos. Even other species can meet the same fate as well as polypterus. In short, keep the tiger loaches by themselves. Either that or don't get them at all.
pretty much, unless you have a huge tropical fish pond, you should keep these loaches in a group by themselves. they are relentless bullies who can damage even the biggest fish.
I have one in with all of my clowns, discus and angels. He seems to think he is part of the clown loach pack. I haven't noticed any problems in the last 2 years. I guess they all have different personalities...I must have just got lucky.
okay thanks i was getting a little confused like i said i may be getting a 75 which i could pick tank mates to fit the tiger loaches so then barbs and cyprinids are pretty much the only fish that could live with them with out to many problems okay thanks i think it would still be worth it a nice group of tigers in a planted tank with some good colorful barbs would be a pretty cool tank
one last question how fast do they grow do they have the average growth rate of loaches ?
They actually grow like clown loaches similar with others with the possible exception of yoyo loaches and a few other small botiine loaches such as Botia histrionica. The tigers you are looking for apparently can reach 8 inches max only so I can guess a year or two until they reach that size but it depends on water conditions and feedings really.
okay so pretty slow then no problem thanks alot man i think i'll pick some up when it get my new tank and can shift my fish around and have room for them hope the LFS still has some when the time comes
huh never knew skunk loaches could hang all ways thought they were pretty peacful but loaches aren't my strong point
I keep a 5" syncrossus berdmorei in a 55 community with other semi-aggressive fish (and a few 2.5" zodiac loaches), and I he does great. This is more the exception than the rule, however. At my LFS, I asked the employee to feed the tank (in with aggressive ciclids), and of the three in the tank, two ate from the top and fought the ciclids for every morsel. I picked the one that was nosing around the bottom for food, and it turned out to be a very peaceful and very active bottom feeder. Mine ignores every fish that doesn't look like him, which is happens to be every fish in my tank (remember, not typical)!
And what a BEAUTIFUL fish.
I'm upgrading to a 300 gallon next summer and plan on a range of 6"-12" fish, which this guy will fit right into.
Have you tried handfeeding that loach?