Attcking Gold Sucking Loach

[cybernetuk]

I have a community tak with small fish such as Guppies, Mollies, Neons and 2 Zebra Danios and one Gold Sucking Loach. I have often found the loach chasing some of the fish around the tank for a couple of seconds. Recently I have lost a Danio and some Neons without any bodies to be found. Could the loach be attacking and eating them? He isn't that big, probably around 2" at most.


Thanks!

 

[IMCL85]

did you check behind ur tank, inside ur filter? Cause those two kind of fish r well known good jumper I lost 3-4 neon because they jump out.

 

[Durbkat]

Can you post a picture of him? Does he look like this http/www.azgardens.com/images/Gold-Algae-Eater.gif ?

 

[WILDER]

Also it would be good to no the tank size, plus water stats in ammonia,.nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

 

[DragonLass]

Sucking loaches are notoriously aggressive, so it is entirely possible that it has attacked your other fish.
However they also don't eat all that much, so it doesn't sound quite right that a danio could just disappear with no trace. As suggested, is it possible that these fish have jumped out.

Generally speaking though, you are likely going to have to do something about the loach, even if it isn't the culprit - if it is already chasing your other fish around then chances are it will attack them sooner or later.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Small bodies can disappear quite rapidly in warm water, they dissolve and parts get eaten. When my cory died all I found was the top fin and there were no aggressive fish in the tank. But the CAE will be a problem.

 

[cybernetuk]

Can you post a picture of him? Does he look like this http/www.azgardens.com/images/Gold-Algae-Eater.gif ?

Thanks for the replies so far.

Durbkat, yes he looks exactly like that one.
I don't have readings to hand, I just get them checked at the LFS. They have been checked recently and are ok. I will get my own test kit soon.

 

[Durbkat]

Well that is normal for that fish because as they get older they stop eating algae and get very aggressive and will attack your slow moving fish. So I am not telling you to do so but I would advise you to return it because like I said it will get aggressive and attack your fish.

 

[RandomWiktor]

Yup; he'll def. end up making little munchie-meals out of your fish, or at the very least badly stressing them. Either way, they will probably end up dead one day. I believe a single CAE can be kept in a 20gal tank if it is the only fish in there (though, I've read up to 40g; no webpage says the same thing). However, I could see why this might not be the best thing for you financially. So, if you bought him recently, you should be able to make a return. Its a shame stores even sell them; I'm sure the majority end up being returned or killed since they are so horrible in community tanks. And stores like Petsmart market them as a "peaceful tropical community fish" that "eats algae."

 

[cybernetuk]

Thanks for all your advice guys.
I have had him a while now, but as he got bigger I have lost the odd fish for no seemingly good or obvious reason. I have seen the CAE chasing the other fish but the LFS where i got it said the CAE was friendly and would be fine so I just took it that it was ok. Anyway, I will see if they will just have it back so my other fish can live in peace!

Thanks again