To Loach or not to Loach, THAT is the question.

[andytwite]

I'm considering getting a loach for my 29gal community tank. I've trawled my LFS's and have so far found a few on offer. I've researched them on the internet, but would love to hear from people about their experiences with loaches and any other advice as much I have read appears to varied and often contradictary.The major factor here is probably size, I don't want to have to get rid of something 12 months down the road.

These are what I could get:

1. Clown Loaches: one LFS has some very small ones but I understand these suckers can get pretty large and I don't want to have to get rid of them in a year or so....much as I love the look of them.

2. Tiger botia (tiger loach): not sure about these, they look kind of interesting, but I did read somewhere they can be a bit aggressive? Size: up to 8"?

3. Burmese loach (Polka-dot loach, Botia kubotai?). Two BEAUTIFUL specimens. I read they can be kept singly and can reach up to 8" (only one source quoted this, most others state 4-6" is more likely).

4. Kuhli loach: Intersting looking, quite attractive, stay small? Only two available...is this enough as I read they like groups.

Here are the others in the tank they would be co-habiting:

3 platies
2 guppies
6 neon tetras
4 albino cories

What does everyone think? *celebrate

 

[andytwite]

I'm considering getting a loach for my 29gal community tank. I've trawled my LFS's and have so far found a few on offer. I've researched them on the internet, but would love to hear from people about their experiences with loaches and any other advice as much I have read appears to varied and often contradictary.The major factor here is probably size, I don't want to have to get rid of something 12 months down the road.

These are what I could get:

1. Clown Loaches: one LFS has some very small ones but I understand these suckers can get pretty large and I don't want to have to get rid of them in a year or so....much as I love the look of them.

2. Tiger botia (tiger loach): not sure about these, they look kind of interesting, but I did read somewhere they can be a bit aggressive? Size: up to 8"?

3. Burmese loach (Polka-dot loach? Botia kubotai?). Two BEAUTIFUL specimens. I read they can be kept singly and can reach up to 8" (only one source quoted this, most others state 4-6" is more likely)

4. Kuhli loach: Intersting looking, quite attractive, stay small? Only two available...is this enough as I read they like groups.

Here are the others in the tank they would be co-habiting:

3 platies
2 guppies
6 neon tetras
4 albino cories

What does everyone think? *celebrate

 

[Ramirezi]

I have a Kuhli loach I only see him once every two week or so. I really like the Horse-head loach though hhe is out all the time looking for any morsals laying around.
both of these will stay on the smaller side.

 

[Ramirezi]

I have a Kuhli loach I only see him once every two week or so. I really like the Horse-head loach though hhe is out all the time looking for any morsals laying around.
both of these will stay on the smaller side.

 

[bigfoot150]

I have had a clown loach for about 6months and while he does eat alot he has not grown very much from when I got him. You may want to also look at getting a yoyo loach. They are attractive and eat just as much as a clown loach. They also don't grow very big either.

 

[method]

how long does it take for a clown loach to reach it's full potential size?

 

[dethjam316]

a long time...but even still i would say no smaller than a 55g for clown loaches, even if you are growing them into a bigger tank. in a 29g they'll grow slow for all the wrong reasons. you are wise to stay away from those for your tank, andy. i'd go kuhlis from that list, but if i were you, i'd just add more cories, the same kind of different. loaches and cories don't always get along on the bottom...well, that's true for botia loaches anyway. kuhlis should be okay, but i'd still go for the cories.

 

[bigfoot150]

You can safely put a clown loach in a 20gallon and even a 29gallon. I have had no problem keeping a clownloach in a 20 gallon or a 44gallon tank. So a 55gallon min is not really correct.

 

[Fruitbat]

Let's see....loaches....

Currently I have:
2 Botia almorhae (YoYo Loaches)
2 Botia kubotai ('Angelicus' Loaches)
2 Botia robusta (Golden Zebra Loaches)
1 Botia striata (Zebra Loach)
2 Noemacheilus triangularis (Batik Loaches)
3 Schistura mahnerti (Burmese Border Loaches)
1 Schistura beavani

They are ALL doing very well, eating practically anything, and none of them grow excessivly big. The Botia robusta, Noemacheilus triangularis, and Schistura mahnerti have all shown some territorial tendencies and will frequently chase other fish (especially other loaches) away from their selected spot with no physical harm ever being done. The Botia almorhae and Botia kubotai occasionally squabble a bit...again with no harm being done.

I can certainly recommend the YoYo Loach as a candidate for your aquarium....you get a personable fish that is often 'out front' (mine prowl the tank actively all day). Botia kubotai would also be a good selection. Mine are finally starting to hang out in the open more often and they sure are beautiful!

Avoid the Tiger Botia....they can get well above the 8" size you mention and are known for being fairly aggressive. I wouldn't recommend the Clown Loach as a permanent resident of a 29 gallon aquarium.

One thing to keep in mind is that most Botia species prefer being in groups so you might consider getting at least two of whatever loach you pick.

 

[dethjam316]

Originally posted by bigfoot150
You can safely put a clown loach in a 20gallon and even a 29gallon. I have had no problem keeping a clownloach in a 20 gallon or a 44gallon tank. So a 55gallon min is not really correct.

ok, a 44 MAYBE as a grow-out tank, but a 20g tank? i COMPLETELY disagree. that is poor practice, especially when most people would plan on keeping it there permanently. i'd have no problem keeping a pacu or an oscar in a 20g, but it's not a very good damn idea, is it?

 

[Cillana]

Kuhli loaches are the only ones fit for that size tank. Get the two and see if you can get more later.

Kuhlis can be shy. You might not see them everyday. Lots of buddies and some plants to hang out in will help. They are very peaceful. They like to dig if you have fine gravel or sand in your tank. When mine share food with my cories they will swim under the cories to get to the food. They aren't good snail eaters. Um... I think that's about it. Any other questions?

 

[Fruitbat]

I replied to this same post in another thread with some info that I hope will be helpful. I must say that I respectfully disagree with Cillana regarding the Acanthophthalmus being the only loaches in your list that will do well in the 29 gallon tank.

 

[Cillana]

Well I guess the tigers or polkadots would be okay. I don't know if 8 inches is really their full size or how long they take to get that big. But when/if they are you probably shouldn't have any large rocks or driftwood in there since a 29 gallon is only 12 inches wide. They need room to comfortably turn around.

 

[dethjam316]

you shouldn't start the same topic in more than one forum. i answered in the other.

 

[andytwite]

Ya, Sorry about the double posting (especially to dethjam and fruitbat who replied on the other board.....I really do appreciate your advice).

I usually post only in the newbie forum because I'm so new to the hobby and get great advice there. Only when i was looking carefully looking at the site did I realise there were quite so many other boards. They don't always seem to show up when I go back to the main page. I apologize if I have broken a golden forum rule!!

Incidentally, thanks to all that have replied, as usual the advice is great. So, I've pretty much managed it down to the Kuhli loaches or a Polka-dot/Burmese/Angelicus (man...why does that one have so many names?).

I could really use any more advice, pros/cons from you guys with regards to these two species.

Incidentally, cost is also another consideration.....kind of! The kuhli's are going for $3.99 each, the Burmese for $16.99 each!

Thanks so much all, I seriously love this place!

*celebrate

 

[Fruitbat]

I suggest the Botia kubotai over the Kuhli Loach. The kubotai will actually come out and let you see them occasionally!!!

The reason there are so many names for the Botia kubotai is because they are a recently described species. Until an actual genus/species name was published, people called these loaches whatever came to mind! Incidentally, I noticed that PetCo is calling them 'Marbled Loaches'.

 

[andytwite]

Thanks fruitbat, do you know how big they get? And there are two in the store, should I get one or two for my 29gal?

 

[Fruitbat]

Get them both if you can afford them. Like most Botia, kubotai like the company of their own kind.

Nobody is quite sure how big they get at this point....but the biggest I've heard of at this point is about 4 inches. There have been rumors of some 6 inch fish but those are unsubstantiated. I suspect they stay reasonably small compared to Botia hymenophysa (Tiger Loach) or Clown Loaches. They seem more akin to YoYo Loaches.

 

[Lotus]

I would agree on that. Mine don't seem to be on their way to being 6" or 8" fish. Ours are still smaller than the yoyos, but we have only had them a few months.

They are great fish We got 2, then went and got another 2 a few days later. They seem pretty playful fish, and I have never seen any aggression from mine.

 

[bigredspecial]

Another thing I would suggest, is black kuhli's; they aren't as pretty without the coloration, but I find them to be much more active - mine are always swimming about the tank or in circles.