Can You Help Me Understand What Fish Loaches Get Along With?

[geer head]

I'm looking at getting some loaches (probably clown) because I really like them and want some bottom fish for my tank.

I currently have some zebra danilos, black skirt tetras, blue dwarf gouramis, platy, and some tetra that I can't spell the name of (looks like a black skirt, but is reddish instead of black) in my tank. I also plan to get a pleco (most likely bristlenose).

It sounds like most loaches are good for community tanks? Do they really work well with all community fish, or are the combinations that are bad?

Also, on a related topic, how quickly would you say I can stock my tank if I'm only doing water changes every couple of months? (how often can I add new fish and how much)
Does the size of the tank make a difference to how quickly you can stock it?

 

[Davo86]

The tank size is the main issue with clown loaches, They require an absolute bare minimum of 300L as they can grow 8inches +
In smaller tanks b.kubotai, b.lohachata, b.striata and dwarf chain loach are much better options

You need to be doing water changes much more often than every couple of months, do you have a test kit to monitor what the stats are?
Once your tank is reasonably stocked you will find yourself having lots of problems caused by water quality issues if you are only doing a water change every couple of months

 

[loachman]

The tank size is the main issue with clown loaches, They require an absolute bare minimum of 300L as they can grow 8inches +
In smaller tanks b.kubotai, b.lohachata, b.striata and dwarf chain loach are much better options

You need to be doing water changes much more often than every couple of months, do you have a test kit to monitor what the stats are?
Once your tank is reasonably stocked you will find yourself having lots of problems caused by water quality issues if you are only doing a water change every couple of months

I'd agree. Any of the botia species (yoyos, zebra loaches, b.kubotai, etc.) and the pangios (kuhlis) are pretty good community fish. Tetras, barbs, rasboras, gouramis, etc. are all good.

Syncrossus species(including tiger loaches), Yasuhikotakia species (including skunk loaches), and the like are much more aggressive and shouldn't be put into a community tank. The exception to this is Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki (dwarf chain loach), which is much more peaceful.

The various Hillstream loaches (of the genus Schistura, Gastromyzon, Beaufortia, Acanthocobitis, etc.) do best in peaceful tanks with a lot of water flow and high oxygen content. They often like cooler water than the common tropical tank as well. Typically, they're placed with WCMMs or danios.

 

[geer head]

I thank you for your responses, but it still gets me how so many people blindly jump at you if you don't do water changes every week. There is no evidence that water changes are needed that often. I know many people who only change their water twice a year and they have no problems with their tanks. Although water changes will help when you have a high concentration of something in your tank, tanks with proper feeding and no additives will not have a high concentration of anything with a couple of months. Also, from what I have learned over the years, having plants in your tank helps combat fish waste and other problems.

As for the size of the tank, it is not a big issue for me as I will be upgrading the size of my tank before the loaches grow very large. I understand that they usually don't grow more than about 1-2 inches per year for the first few years. Is this correct? (All of my other fish I am using their adult size to determine how stocked my tank is)

 

[Alasse]

I do water changes every 6-8 weeks, i have no water quality issues

Clown loaches grow fairly quickly til they get to about 5inches then growth slows. Yoyos grow fairly quickly to full length in about 12 months or a bit more. Most fish will grow fairly quickly providing optimum conditions are met.

 

[tenohfive]

I thank you for your responses, but it still gets me how so many people blindly jump at you if you don't do water changes every week. There is no evidence that water changes are needed that often.

If you've kept even slightly sensitive fish (such as GBR's - microgeophagus ramirezi) you'll see why people do more regular water changes. You miss a weekly water change and the colouration goes more pale, they're visibly more stressed and fight alot more. Discus are another more extreme example, lack of sufficient water changes during their juvenile period can lead to stunting.

Theres a little evidence for you. I could come up with a few more, but I suspect you won't accept them. Laziness is the only reason not to do regular water changes.

 

[uneekfish]

I thank you for your responses, but it still gets me how so many people blindly jump at you if you don't do water changes every week. There is no evidence that water changes are needed that often.

If you've kept even slightly sensitive fish (such as GBR's - microgeophagus ramirezi) you'll see why people do more regular water changes. You miss a weekly water change and the colouration goes more pale, they're visibly more stressed and fight alot more. Discus are another more extreme example, lack of sufficient water changes during their juvenile period can lead to stunting.

Theres a little evidence for you. I could come up with a few more, but I suspect you won't accept them. Laziness is the only reason not to do regular water changes.

I am pretty new to the hobby, but here is an additional thought. We measure No2- and No3- and Ammonia, what all else is in the water that we do not measure? Hormones that stunt the fish's growth, etc.. In the wild, stocking is lighter, and water changes occur naturally.

Also if something horrible happened and you need to do a 100% or 90% water change, if the tank is closer to the tap water the fish will come through much better, Ph, etc... Minerials in the water do get depleted. And my fish seem pretty happy after fresh water is added...

I change 25% every two weeks. I would do it weekly, but it is at my office and difficult to carry the buckets of water to office, I assume 2 weeks is fine. A good gravel vac is always a good thing. There we are my first post!

 

[emma12321]

have a look on www.loaches.com its a great site with loads of loachy info

Emma

 

[Alasse]

Laziness is the only reason not to do regular water changes.

Not true and rudely put i might add.

I dont do them because it is not required on my 5ft, the water quality varies little if at all in the time between water changes. Also where i am is on severe water restrictions (town water). Though i use all tank water, that too is restricted and must be used carefully. (i've already bought 1 load of water and with no rain in sight i'm sure more will have to come)

I have varies fish breeding happily, no signs of stress (colour changes etc), no signs of disease....to me that means my way is working for me, certainly NOT a sign of laziness.

You do it different, but i am not telling you you are obsessive or anything else rude, i accept that your way works for you. Funny thing about fish keeping what works for one does not always work for another. Regular water changes did nothing for me or my tanks, i ended up with stressed fish, no breeding and constant illnesses, hence why i changed. Something to think about dont you think .

 

[tenohfive]

I'd love to know how you attribute constant illnesses to water changes lol.

And its not rudeness, its my opinion that there is no good reason not to do regular water changes on community setups, and that people look for justification not to do time consuming chores. Shocking idea that. I stand by that opinion, if you want to feel offended please feel free.

 

[Alasse]

Ich was prevalent in my town water, hence many water changes left fish open. Ich is classed as an illness is it not *L*

There is stating an opinion and stating it rudely, i know which way your came across. You can stand by yours all you like And i'll stand by mine that in all cases weekly water changes are definately NOT required Agree to disagree on the subject i think.

It has nothing to do with the time factor why i dont do water changes on the 5ft, i dont do them because it is purely uneccessary. My other 10 tanks get different treatment again, varying from 3 weekly to weekly, depending on their purpose (fry tanks naturally are weekly due to high food demand). If i was purely lazy as you put it, ALL my tanks would be on the 6-8 weekly water changes *LOL*

Offended, no not really, just stating my side of the case is all, you dont like my side, as you say, feel free

 

[tenohfive]

You've got your experiences, I've got mine and I'm happy to agree to disagree. Water changes are a way of improving water quality, so whilst you can definately do too few (as even you have stated) I don't believe you can do too many - and for that reason I will always encourage people to do too many rather than too few.

And incidentally ich is a parasite, not an illness.

 

[Alasse]

I know what ich is *L*...on many forums....the fish gets sick, as in ill, hence why it is classed as an illness by many

 

[tenohfive]

I know what ich is *L*...on many forums....the fish gets sick, as in ill, hence why it is classed as an illness by many

But its a parasite...I understand that some people struggle to admit they're wrong mind. We'll leave it at that now as I'm getting bored of this conversation, and I don't think the OP is benefitting from it.

OP - weekly water changes are the way ahead. Thats my opinion, if you don't like it don't follow it.

 

[geer head]

Interesting discussion so far. I have to say that I do agree with you that certain fish do need their water maintained/changed regularly. I don't think there are a large number of fish who need this though. I know someone who has two arrowanna fish and if he doesn't change his water for over 2 weeks, some of the scales will "shoot out" as he described it. It is something that he really doesn't like as it impacts the value and importance of the fish.

Overall with tanks that aren't very sensitive, I know many owners who have successful tanks and do not change their water often. One theory a person told me was that if you do water changes regularly, your fish will get used to it and need regular changes but if you don't change it regularly, they get used to that and don't need regular changes.

I also do find it a bit presumptuous to say that laziness is the reason not to change water. Many cities now have water metered (you pay for every drop) and that cost can be a lot as your tank size increases! There could be other reasons too.

Oh and thanks for the site on loaches