Just scored some free loaches off craigslist...

[ryanoh]

...(hopefully, the seller hasn't responded yet) and was wondering what I need to do to make them happy. I seem to have found that the general consensus is that they need sand, and I'll hopefully be switching form my 55 tank to a 40 tank with a larger footprint, which I've also heard is good for loaches. This tank change should happen in about a month and a half. If I put them in my gravel tank until them, should they be okay? It's pretty small gravel. I'd say smaller than pea size, and it's not sharp at all.

I've done my research, and they should be fine with my current fish (livebearers and a pleco), so I guess I'm mostly asking about the substrate.

He says they're stripped loaches by the way, which I'm assuming means this:
Zebra Loach (Botia striata) — Loaches Online
but I did ask to make sure. He's also offering a gold loach (which I'm assuming means gold dojo loach), but I'm hesitant to take that as well due to them growing large than the striped ones. Thoughts on this gold loach?

 

[Sharkee]

ask him what exactly it is or if he can send you pics. clown loaches also have stipes and they grow to about 18 inches.

 

[misterking]

ask him what exactly it is or if he can send you pics. clown loaches also have stipes and they grow to about 18 inches.

Well that's a bit of an exaggeration.. 8-10 inches in a properly maintained and good-sized aquarium, no more than 12 inches in the wild. Either way though large so make sure you know what you're getting!

 

[ryanoh]

Right, I'm looking for picture before I take them. If they're what I think they are they only grow to 5 inches, and I have room for three of them, and probably the gold dojo as well if that's what it is.

Any advice on the sand part though? I've never done a sand bottom tank before.

 

[Sharkee]

Well that's a bit of an exaggeration.. 8-10 inches in a properly maintained and good-sized aquarium, no more than 12 inches in the wild. Either way though large so make sure you know what you're getting!

I don't know about that judgement but hey it seems like we're all experts here.

 

[lauraf]

If you have small gravel that is rounded without sharp edges, those loaches should be fine. The reason people suggest sand or fine gravel is so the very sensitive barbels of loaches that they use to dig in the substrate for food don't get abraded. However, 'smaller than pea-sized' might still be a bit big for them long-term. For now they should be okay, but maybe instead of sand if you aren't comfortable with that substrate, you could set up the new tank with a really fine smooth gravel? Kinda like what you can see in my avatar? My yoyo loaches, dwarf cories and multipuntatus catefish seem to being doing great with it.
Just a thought.

 

[CoNMaN]

If you get a dojo loach, you can do them no greater favor than a sandy bottom. Mine LOVED it, I would rarely see them they spent their entire lives digging through it.

Sand is easy, and it looks great. And if you have dojo's you don't need to vacuum it! They poke all those bubbles and stir it up.

 

[CoNMaN]

He's also offering a gold loach (which I'm assuming means gold dojo loach), but I'm hesitant to take that as well due to them growing large than the striped ones. Thoughts on this gold loach?

Also don't worry about the size, you have plenty of room, Dojos don't get full size in aquariums

 

[ryanoh]

For now they should be okay, but maybe instead of sand if you aren't comfortable with that substrate, you could set up the new tank with a really fine smooth gravel?

My only concern with sand is what to do with my plants, as I've read they're harder to keep in sand. Can I use less than an average amount of gravel, then put sand on top, just to the roots can get into something?

 

[ryanoh]

If you get a dojo loach, you can do them no greater favor than a sandy bottom. Mine LOVED it, I would rarely see them they spent their entire lives digging through it.

Sand is easy, and it looks great. And if you have dojo's you don't need to vacuum it! They poke all those bubbles and stir it up.

Does these eliminate the problem of gas pockets building up, or should I still stir it up/get snails?

 

[Doomhed]

my loaches do fine in regular lowes gravel. IT isnt small enough they can bury themselves but they manage to move it around to make little hidey holes throughout the tank.