Loaches with cichlids

[FishyFishyFishy]

I'm planning to get some loaches. I got a flowerhorn (a gentil one). What kind of loach would go with him? clown?

And why are loaches so expensive, do they die easily? And also, can loaches stand salty water (doc well's aquarium salt)? Can they stand high temp (86F)?

 

[impur]

The flowerhorn will probably kill them eventually. Most loaches like the clown loaches, have not been bred in captivity yet. So they must be wild caught and imported which is more expensive. They do not like salty water. 86F is too hot IMO

 

[rvm]

I have no experience with flowerhorns, but I have 4 clowns with various cichlids, including a 10" Oscar. I've never had any problems at all. IME cichlids tend to be aggressive mostly towards other cichlids, and things like Loaches don't bother them too much. I occasionally see a bit of aggression from the Oscar towards my Surinamensis, and it's returned every now and then, but never towards the clowns!

Definatley no salty water though, and 86F is a bit too high, I keep mine at about 76-78F

 

[impur]

The aggression of a flowerhorn is comparible to a red devil or trimac. They basically will kill anything else in the tank that is in their territory. Since these fish get so big, an entire 300g tank would be considered their territory.