VATF with big Pakistan loach??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Hydrocyanide

Hydrocyanide

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Mar 14, 2012
270
2
33
United States
Went to the lfs today for feeders and this guy had decided to switch his 250 fw tank to a sw tank. He had brang the owner some big healthy fish. Among those were two 5"+ plump Pakistan loaches. Is this safe or even at all a bad idea to put in the tank with my vit?? Not sure if anyone has tried this before, but I do have two ideas about the loaches. They either stay left alone cause they move in pairs and their big, or they become a problem with my 8" vatf and become lunch! Which one do you think?
 
What's a Pakistan loach? Yoyo loach?
 
Don't all loaches have suboccular spines? Might be a tough meal to choke down.
 
Yeah I guess a yoyo loach would be correct. But I don't know loaches that's why I'm asking.. their big! And my thought was that they would keep the tiger fishes attention but not aggrivate him. Just like ditherfish maybe?

Sent from my MB886 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
DB junkie said:
Don't all loaches have suboccular spines? Might be a tough meal to choke down.
Click to expand...

They all have them but the efficacy of the spine as a defensive tool varies from species to species. It runs the gamut from deadly efficient to an almost inconsequential afterthought.

I don't see the tiger bothering the loach, but anything could happen. I would- and actually have- put loaches with my tigers. I wouldn't think twice about adding a 5" yoyo with Max if I wanted it and could get it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
IMO, those small spines have little effect on large predetors. I've had a 6 inch poly weeksi down my entire colony of eight 3 inch clown loach with no problem. Not sure about ATFs though.
 
Well that answers that question haha! Thanks for all the input. I wouldn't suspect my vatf of eating one of them, but if anything he would be a bit viscious and nippy. They are just so cool looking and with the size of my tiger, its hard to get a fish that won't be a meal or make a meal out of my vatf. There was a 10" or so black ghost knife there that would be a cool fish also but not sure I like the idea of adding a hollow log or tube to my tank. I fancy having an almost bare tank with sand, some stones, and small drift wood.
 
I am of the school that says if the 2 species can't possibly encounter each other in the wild, don't house them together. In other words, loaches from Pakistan, ATF from the congo, I wouldn't put them together. Strange ,I know, but its just one of those things with me....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom