What is the name of this fish?

[SalviniCichlidFan]

I can't say just why they might be doing it with the puffers though - perhaps, based on behavioral similarity, they choose to join the puffers?

Sometimes I think that loaches may imitate other fish's behavior to follow the other fish hunting for food. When the other fish gets to a food source, the loaches (who are following the fish) will also get to the food source, so the loaches themselves don't have to hunt.

But this is just my theory.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I'm in no position to say whether you'd be right or wrong there. I've never seen it happen with any loach I've had or heard of it happening, but it's far from impossible.

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

I'm in no position to say whether you'd be right or wrong there. I've never seen it happen with any loach I've had or heard of it happening, but it's far from impossible.

I mostly thought of this theory because I read somewhere that Malawi Dolphin cichlids like to follow other cichlids hunting for food, so the Dolphin cichlids could eat the leftovers.

 

[professorjimjam]

Thanks very much again! The world the better place with people like you helping other fellow human.
I am very grateful. Many people who I have never met have helped me in this forum.
I had 4 kuhli loaches and I gave that away to someone, as they were not eating the snails and were very shy and always in hiding. Even though they were good scavengers cleaning the leftover food but I didn’t like them, as I could not see them most of the time. Now, I am happy with these 5 ladder loaches. They look healthy to me as they eat a lot.
You mentioned about the changing the substrate. I currently have this black color gravel. But I have no experience on how to choose find smooth gravel.
I would appreciate if anyone could help me with an image of fine smooth gravel so that I can show it to the shop and buy it from there.
also I don’tknow if changing the entire gravel to a new gravel will kill the good bacteria, or I would appreciate if I can be guided on how to change the gravel with the new one, as I have never done it. Is there a video or a guide on how to change the gravel on an already established running tank?
right now. My tank is a bit overpopulated due to many bristlenose plecos fries. But I am waiting for them to get a bit bigger so that they do not die on transfer. I will give them away to anyone who wants them for free.
I am changing the 30% of water every Monday. And the water quality is good so far. Ammonia 0 , nitrite 0 and nitrate is around 5ppm. Ph is 7.5

thank you.

 

[Deadeye]

I’ve done a full substrate and decor transfer on a tank once with no consequences. If the filter is well established (which it is) it should be a seamless transition.
Tbh I’d leave the gravel for now. I’d only be super worried if a problem presents itself. My loaches and puffers have been fine with gravel.

 

[professorjimjam]

Thank you very much Deadeye.
btw, what kind of loaches do you have with your amazons ?

 

[Deadeye]

Skunk and sun loaches. They are some of the more aggressive Botias, but much more reclusive.

 

[professorjimjam]

Thank you

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I’ve done a full substrate and decor transfer on a tank once with no consequences. If the filter is well established (which it is) it should be a seamless transition.
Tbh I’d leave the gravel for now. I’d only be super worried if a problem presents itself. My loaches and puffers have been fine with gravel.

For P professorjimjam to know as well, I disagree with that. Longer term, as per Emma Turner's article (as in several years), a problem due to the sharp gravel is very likely.
And even if that doesn't occur, the loaches will be much happier with sand. They enjoy digging in it, searching for food in it, and sifting it through their gills - that extra step of including sand will go a long way towards happier fish with more natural and interesting behavior.
Finally, it's much better for keeping the tank clean. Coarse gravel traps fish food and other detritus in it, while that detritus sits on top of sand and is easy to vacuum.

TL;DR: Coarse gravel is unlikely to kill them, but over the long term may well hurt them, and lacks several benefits sand has. As fishkeepers we always want to do the very best possible for our fish, and in this case that's providing sand substrate.

As per what Deadeye said, though, switching out all the gravel for sand will probably be OK if the filters are good.

Edit: If you meant smooth gravel, it doesn't have the problem of wearing the barbels down, but it still lacks the sand's benefits. So I'd still advise to switch to sand.

 

[professorjimjam]

Thank you very much. Can you give me example what kind of sand I should buy? And for a aquarium of 82 x 40 cm how many kilos of sand do I need?