loaches

[tropicalcrazy]

i know the clown loach gets up to a foot but what about other loaches? do they all get that big? i know Sidthimunki Botia Loach (Botia sidthimunki) gets only 2" how about Angelicus Botia Loach (Botia angelicus) or Dario Botia Loach (Botia dario) i notice both these guys it says size of tank 30 gallons. this is all info from live aquaria.

 

[tropicalcrazy]

ok so i just found some info on them. i see 5-6". ok so now my question is how is their aggression towards other fish in the tank when getting older? and do they have to be in a school?

 

[tropicalcrazy]

and i notice that Sidthimunki Botia Loach (Botia sidthimunki) is a semi aggressive loach but how aggressive are they towards larger semi aggressive tank mates. do they do fine in community and do you have to school these guys together?

 

[jo3olous]

I think clown loaches are the only botias that exceed 1-1.5 feet. It's not their length that makes them big, it's their girth.

A lot of the loaches like skunks (4'') and such stay pretty small.

Yoyos only grow up to about 5 inches.
Weather loaches can grow up to 12'', but they are not girthy like clowns, rather they are very slender.

Sorry I don't really know them by their scientific names, just the common name.

 

[jo3olous]

and i notice that Sidthimunki Botia Loach (Botia sidthimunki) is a semi aggressive loach but how aggressive are they towards larger semi aggressive tank mates. do they do fine in community and do you have to school these guys together?

I'd say most loaches do better in schools and as long as you keep 4-5 of them i don't see the aggression leaving the pack.

 

[tropicalcrazy]

I'd say most loaches do better in schools and as long as you keep 4-5 of them i don't see the aggression leaving the pack.

ok cool thanks for the info

 

[tropicalcrazy]

they are snail eaters though correct?

 

[unwritten law]

they are snail eaters though correct?

It's safe to say most are yes

 

[tropicalcrazy]

if i just got 1 say yoyo or skunk loach and drop it in my tank after i get rid of the rainbow shark and gold algae eater, should it fair well in my tank or should i maybe get 2 to pair up possibly 3? i know i would be pushing stocking limit and be a little overstocked but i would love to rid of the snails that i have in there so i can get it ready to be a fully planted tank and add tons more plants. but i dont want to add plants and the snails go crazy and reproduce like crazy and kill a lot of my plants because that is what happened last time.

 

[jo3olous]

if i just got 1 say yoyo or skunk loach and drop it in my tank after i get rid of the rainbow shark and gold algae eater, should it fair well in my tank or should i maybe get 2 to pair up possibly 3? i know i would be pushing stocking limit and be a little overstocked but i would love to rid of the snails that i have in there so i can get it ready to be a fully planted tank and add tons more plants. but i dont want to add plants and the snails go crazy and reproduce like crazy and kill a lot of my plants because that is what happened last time.

The skunk loach might be too small to hang with your bigger fish? I'd go with the yoyo, and you might want to get a mature one

 

[tropicalcrazy]

ok so i get a bigger yoyo, do i get 2 or more or should i keep at 1 since im getting for one soul purpose only, to eat snails and rid of them

 

[Scooper]

If you don't want to many try 2-3 although they do better in a larger group.

 

[Lotus]

It's a bad idea to get one or two. Three is really the minimum of any of the botia loaches.

Yoyos get to about 6 or 7 inches. Skunks stay smaller, but tend to be more aggressive. Angelicus loaches are friendly and don't get more than about 4 inches, but they're more expensive.

 

[tropicalcrazy]

It's a bad idea to get one or two. Three is really the minimum of any of the botia loaches.

Yoyos get to about 6 or 7 inches. Skunks stay smaller, but tend to be more aggressive. Angelicus loaches are friendly and don't get more than about 4 inches, but they're more expensive.

well maybe i will go with 3 of the angelicus because i really like those and i could probably be fine to keep them until around febuary when i get my 180g and then transfer them in there and add 3 more with that setup that i want to do. getting it all planned out ahead of time so things go so much smoother. how aggressive though are the skunks? would they fair well with the albino rainbow shark, bichir, and both plecos? if so i should be fine with the skunks. i dont know. CRAP

 

[tropicalcrazy]

thanks for the schooling min also that helps out A LOT

 

[tropicalcrazy]

It's a bad idea to get one or two. Three is really the minimum of any of the botia loaches.

Yoyos get to about 6 or 7 inches. Skunks stay smaller, but tend to be more aggressive. Angelicus loaches are friendly and don't get more than about 4 inches, but they're more expensive.

also how about this one do you know anything about Dario Botia Loach (Botia dario) or this one Tiger Botia Loach (Botia hymenophysa) or even possibly Redtail Botia Loach(Botia modesta) but then again this guy looks like my rainbow shark and i want something different looking but they are cheap? i noticed they werent as pricely and they are beautiful like the angelicus

 

[jo3olous]

well maybe i will go with 3 of the angelicus because i really like those and i could probably be fine to keep them until around febuary when i get my 180g and then transfer them in there and add 3 more with that setup that i want to do. getting it all planned out ahead of time so things go so much smoother. how aggressive though are the skunks? would they fair well with the albino rainbow shark, bichir, and both plecos? if so i should be fine with the skunks. i dont know. CRAP

I do not think rainbow shark + aggressive botias + the bottom dwellers you have now = good. Too much going on down low, and while I do not think the rainbow shark is like a redtail shark; I think you got a lot of semi-territorial fish going on down low

 

[tropicalcrazy]

I do not think rainbow shark + aggressive botias + the bottom dwellers you have now = good. Too much going on down low, and while I do not think the rainbow shark is like a redtail shark; I think you got a lot of semi-territorial fish going on down low

indeed i do but i also would be getting rid of the regular rainbow shark plus the gold algae eater so therefore i wouldnt really have too many bottom feeders after i do that albino rainbow shark stays on right side of tank with driftwood all the time, clown pleco in his fake wood stump, and hifin in the castle on rocks. or maybe i will. never kept loaches this is why i am asking and trying to read and ask questions then read some more and ask more questions.

 

[tropicalcrazy]

and the rainbow shark is a lot less aggressive then the red tail BUT he is still pretty aggressive, this is another reason for me getting rid of him and also because i have too many sharks in my 55g, and the gold algae eater is going because he gets way too big and i didnt realize that when i bought him i only thought he got to like 4" but i was wrong and he destroys my plants and hes gotten pretty aggressive

 

[jo3olous]

indeed i do but i also would be getting rid of the regular rainbow shark plus the gold algae eater so therefore i wouldnt really have too many bottom feeders after i do that albino rainbow shark stays on right side of tank with driftwood all the time, clown pleco in his fake wood stump, and hifin in the castle on rocks. or maybe i will. never kept loaches this is why i am asking and trying to read and ask questions then read some more and ask more questions.

I gotcha, sorry missed that part of the memo. Questions are great. I personally think your 55G is plenty big since the tank i have isnt that much bigger and is quite bare.