Tiger Loach question

[Z Trip]

Dear fellow fish maniacs

I was on google today and looking at Gouramies because they spark my interest. I then was then furthermore reaserching Skunk loaches because I have 7 of them. Then I saw a link to something called a Tiger Loach. I like this fish, but the info I received was conflicting. One site says they are, inlike other loaches solitairy, another site telling me they are like all other loaches grouping. I would like to have one, only one. It could school with my skunk untils like 5 inches then I can have him by himself in my 85G. What do you think? Go idea or bad desition altogether.

I dont have a fine sand substrate for my fish. Its all standard Wal-Mart aquarium gravel(cheaper). I never had a problem with it. What is all the commotion about Loaches and fine substrate? They seam to be fine without it.

Z

 

[gomezladdams]

Ive kept mine singly cause Ive heard they are too aggressive toward other tigers in the confines of a tank.It is certainly the most aggressive loach Ive ever kept.The 3 people I know of that tried to keep a school had to separate them,and the one multi species loach tank I know of didnt work either.
Mine fits right in with the mbuna I keep him with

 

[Lupin]

Syncrossus can be kept with Yasuhikotakoa morleti, Yasuhikotakia modesta and other aggressive loaches.

As for the fine substrate, loaches do prefer sand although gravel works just as well. Many loaches get their barbels damaged by some substrate so make sure the substrate does not have sharp edges.