horseshoe faced loach

[Grumpy_Marine]

Here is a pic of my purchase today. I saw this guy and had to buy him i am a loach fan big time. He is already happy in new home from the looks of it.

 

[Lotus]

Cool!

At some point you may wish to switch to sand or a small-sized smooth gravel. Your digging loaches will appreciate it.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

that is what i am currently exploring, how would i go about changing the gravel to sand? I know the pebbles would be simple scoop for scoop switch, but sand would clog the filter, hurt the fish and be messy for a while? I would like sand bottom but unsure how to switch with current setup.

 

[Lotus]

I've never been a sand fan. I know our LFS had loaches in a fine gravel (like 1mm) that was smooth. The eel loaches and kuhlis seemed to like burying themselves in it. There's a sand FAQ in one of the stickies that might help you decide one way or the other.

I think it might be hard to switch to sand in a tank that's already setup. Maybe another member can advise you on that.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

I know that when we move i will be able to accomplish this but that task is about nine months away. So for the time being i might go out and get smooth river pebbles or something for the tank.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

I use pool filter sand and the loaches love it. And it was only 9.00 for a 50lb bag, which was plenty for my 55G.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

I think i will go with the pebbles that are smooth for now, when i move i will take that time to change the substrate and stuff... i want to do half and half so to speak, will divide bottom with plexiglass and have pebbles sand pebbles or something,

 

[nobody]

Curious, I have a horse-faced loach and he doesn't burrow. He likes to sit in my plants. Is that a good sign or a bad? I've had him for quite a while and I think he's grown since I got him and seems to be happy, but I was told when i bought him that he would burrow and I haven't seen him do so. Why might that be? Does he just not like to burrow, do you think? Does he not like gravel? I'm just don't know.

 

[nobody]

lol, Actually I have a spotted dojo. As you can see if you look at my sig, but my question is still the same.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

what type gravel do you have? sharp or smooth? I just switched to smooth. I have only seen my loach once since the change. I have dojo loaches and kuhli loaches as well. When i bought dojo he was buried in rocks at LFS, but he has never buried himself at my tank, he hangs in plants as well. The kuhlis have come out more in new gravel than they did with previous gravel.

I would say it is normal perhaps your loach is not as shy as others, perhaps he enjoys being out in the open so to speak. If he is eating and growing it is good sign.

 

[nobody]

I guess you would call it the more sharp gravel. It's not exactly smooth. It's more like the pic shown above. That's what they sell around here.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

If you don't have it i would suggest algae waffers for the loaches as they go crazy over them in my tank. don't know why but that is their coke addiction for fish i think...lol

 

[nobody]

Wafers will make him burrow? I mean, he seems to be eating fine. But I'm not sure what you mean by what you said there. Sorry sometimes things just go over my head.

 

[Grumpy_Marine]

no wafers wont make him burrow... i just stated that all my loaches swarm the wafers like it is crack... they love the things better than any other food i find.

I was at LFS today and saw five horsefaced loaches out above ground, so i guess not all of them burrow, or perhaps they do it once they get a feel for the tank, mine just went straight in the gravel. My kuhli did same thing but now they hang out on top of gravel... so i think it is just a way with the fish some will and some wont.

 

[nobody]

I wish I could get a kuhli. I could use one. Petco had them for a while, but they were always sick when I went in there and now they don' have them anymore .