Unpopular Opinions: Loaches

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I'll start off.

My unpopular opinion is that - the fact that they share that spot with pictus catfish notwithstanding - loaches are at the very top of my favorite fish list (or in short I'm a loachaholic). To the surprise of literally no one who knows me, of course.

By contrast, I have not seen a whole lot of other Monster Fish Keepers who are. That's not to say that nobody here likes loaches, because plenty of users obviously do. It's just that said loaches being a favorite on here is what's rare.
Instead, that spot seems to be taken by things like arowanas, XL catfish, stingrays, tiger perch, cichlids, bichirs, etc.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Think I am missing something here.
You find it strange that the most popular kept fish on monster fish keepers website is not loaches ?
I bet you struggle to find many on loaches.com who’s favourite fish are monster catfish too!

 

[Midwater]

Loaches are the perfect tank mates for monsters. And are pretty good on their own.

I have got more loaches than all other fish put together. I am a loach fiend. I live in loach country.

If you are a sersious fish keeper, you have got to love loaches.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

For Dave, yes, you may be missing something here. This site, to my understanding, is equally about all of the fish types entailed (hence the generalized name). So there is no expectation to have the catfish as a favorite, unlike for example Planet Catfish where what you said would make a lot of sense if I was a member on there and made this thread there.
Also minor nitpick: it's that relatively few have loaches as their favorites I find strange, not that they are not a majority favorite.

For Midwater, agreed. Although I can't attest as strongly to agreeing with the first statement as I can the rest (because I have kept and plan on keeping relatively few non-loach monsters, so my experiences are limited in that regard), everything else is true of me even though I don't live in loach country.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

Im not a fan of any loach that’s I’ve seen other than tiger botia’s and imperial loaches. I just don’t see the appeal they are like worse catfish IMO

 

[Midwater]

 

[Midwater]

 

[Midwater]

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Weather loaches are eaten in the Koreas+Japan, and clown loaches are an Indonesian delicacy as well. Thought those might be interesting for those who did not know.

 

[Deadeye]

What Fishman Dave meant is that on this forum, the most popular fish are going to be the ones that eat loaches, though much of us do like loaches.

My opinion is that they are kind of there for a bottom feeder. I like their playful antics, but if I had to pick them or a cat for the same job, I’d probably pick the cat (there are exceptions though, and I’m not a huge cat fan either).