What Loach Is This

[crumpybumpy]

Hi what loach is this? It has a red spot on its tail. The salesguy said it was peaceful and is a bottom feeder..I put it in my tank and it immediately started attacking my baby swordtails and endlers! But then he calmed down.

Here's a pic of his tail

 

[james_fish]

Red Tail Zebra Loach?

Schistura mahnerti

James.

 

[Man of fish]

Looks like a regular kuhli loach to me

 

[Crossfire]

Looks like a regular kuhli loach to me

*Gasp* I thought I would have taught you what a kuhli loach looks like by now ! You dissapoint....

Red Tail Zebra Loach

Kuhli Loach

 

[crumpybumpy]

Red Tail Zebra Loach I believe is correct. Are these fish aggressive with other fish?

 

[Man of fish]

Ahhhh now I see it. The pictures were bad I'm sorry

 

[Baccus]

Looks to be a Aborichthys elongatus, commonly called a Red-tailed Striped Sand Loach. generally found in fast flowing rivers with pebble and rock bases, ph 7.0 to 8.0 and temp 68- 75F (or 20- 23.8 degrees C), it should only grow to 2.1 inches or (5.4cm). They are shy but lively and live at high altiditudes, they will appreciate hiding places but use them more as bolt holes, generally they will be out forraging around the tank. They have good eye sight and awareness of activity outside of the tank, and react quickly when food is added to the tank. They will feed from the surface as well as snap up food as it drifts past as well as hunting around in the substrate for morsels of food. They do enjopy bloodworms and rinsed brine shrimp.

 

[crumpybumpy]

Baccus you are definitely right. The fish store had it labelled as a Red Tail Zebra Loach but looking at pictures online of Aborichthys elongatus that is definitely what I have. After reading about how red tail zebra loaches are peaceful, but then reading http/www.loaches.com/species-index/aborichthys-elongatus I see they can be quite aggressive which this fish definitely showed when first put into the tank, but now it is just hiding. My tank population is so harmonious and thriving....2 mollies, 1 lyretail swordtail mother with about 5 babies, 4 endlers (the endlers follow the lyretail mother constantly...not sure if they are trying to breed with her or what), a puffer, small catfish, and small algae eater....a bunch of plants and duckweed that provides a varied habitat with plenty of hiding spots...I'm really worried this loach is going to cause deaths.

 

[Baccus]

I would think that this loach will be inquistive towards the adult mollies and swordtails however fry and possibly the endlers may look like food to it. When you say a small catfish is it a young type of corydoras or some other small breed/ species? also what type of algea eater do you have? If its a Chinese Algea Eater (often known as CAE for short) then it will be a problem once it matures and grows, CAE can become very aggressive towards other fish in the tank. If its an ottocinclus then it will prefer being with others of its own kind, and if its a bristle nose then they are pretty good at looking after themselves once they have grown, actually any pleco is pretty well protected by their armour.

For my money it might be best to return the loach to the pet shop and maybe get a couple of Botia species like B. rostrata or B. striata or even a nice group of Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki any of these should be small enough and peaceful enough to fit into your peaceful community as well as tolerating the warmer temps that the mollies, swordtails and endlers are going to enjoy. Otherwise the lovely peaceful but often shy Khuli loach is a wonderfull addition to a community tank. Just as long as with the loaches and possibly the catfish you dont add aquarium salts to the tank.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I agree this loach is probably from the Aborichthys genus, but not A. elongatus like my ~7cm male I've had for nearly two years. Try comparing the fish to Aborichthys sp. 'AR01' and Aborichthys sp. 'AR02', which have a lot more vertical bands on their body and will not grow as big.

 

[crumpybumpy]

Hi--as an update, this loach immediately calmed down after that first day of nipping at any fish that went close to him. He is mostly a ground-feeder but occasionally goes up to the surface to feed with the rest. He hasn't bothered anyone since. So he seems to be a good addition to the tank.

The algae eater I have is a smaller kind--not sure of the exact type...and the catfish stays tiny as well.

The one fish in my tank that is a complete mystery to me is my puffer. I have never seen him eat ANYTHING in the past 6 months he's been in the tank...but there are tons of dead snail shells all over the tank...and one time I saw him peck at a snail but never eat it. I keep buying 10-20 snails every couple of weeks putting them in the tank assuming he is eating them....but WHEN??? All he does is float around in that weird hovering puffer way. A very fascinating fish to watch. DO you think he is eating the snails

 

[McCool]

I would assume so. What kind of puffer is he?

 

[kcartwright856]

Yes, the puffer is eating the snails. It's a very fast maneuver, but you might catch it if you spend a few hours in front of the tank.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Hi--as an update, this loach immediately calmed down after that first day of nipping at any fish that went close to him. He is mostly a ground-feeder but occasionally goes up to the surface to feed with the rest. He hasn't bothered anyone since. So he seems to be a good addition to the tank.

The algae eater I have is a smaller kind--not sure of the exact type...and the catfish stays tiny as well.

The one fish in my tank that is a complete mystery to me is my puffer. I have never seen him eat ANYTHING in the past 6 months he's been in the tank...but there are tons of dead snail shells all over the tank...and one time I saw him peck at a snail but never eat it. I keep buying 10-20 snails every couple of weeks putting them in the tank assuming he is eating them....but WHEN??? All he does is float around in that weird hovering puffer way. A very fascinating fish to watch. DO you think he is eating the snails

What puffer have you got in the same tank as this Aborichthys spp. loach? This sounds like an awful combo, your puffer could get its beak right around the loach's body and make mince meat of it!