Yay!

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Yesterday, I went to a LFS, and they had a new batch of fish come in a few days earlier. I was shocked to see that they were stocking dyed corys (they had hot pink, lilac, and navy blue tails!) but they had some beautiful fish. The ones that caught my eye in particular were the black ghosts and the weather/dojo loaches. They were quite big - ???full size??? - about 4-5". They were only £2 each, but a worker told me that they were still settling in and will be on sale today. Rung up a minute ago, they said they will be ready tomorrow, for definate. I'm going to get 2 dojos and a black ghost! Can't wait!
I've been Googling for the past hour, and now know (I think!) everything that I need to know. I've even read that the dojos will rub around your hand in a cat-like way if you stick your hand in the tank!
Does anyone have any special tips on how to look after them?

EDIT: Oh, and as they are bottom-feeders, they won't fight with my plecs or corys will they? )

 

[guppygirl]

Well, since I have 2 6 1/2 inch dojos, I will fill you in here.
Somebody will probably have posted before me.
Dojos can get up to 8 inches, but they are relatively slow growing past 6 inches.
They are the most peacable fish I have had, even my guppies are more agressive. They could not hurt a fly if they tried.
I have always fed mine shrimp pellets, so far they are their fav food. They fit right in their mouths, and are very nutritious.
I will warn you, don't put dojos in a planted tank, if you do, use lead weights, as they LOVE to redecorate. I have planted things, and five minutes later, the plants are floating at the top!
They are extremely cute and docile, mine have never really liked being touched much, but I think it depends on the dojo. They can be hand fed, I've done it many times with a shrimp pellet in my fingers. They'll come up to the top to eat food too. They are greedy pigs tho!
If you stop feeding them for a while, they'll go into "hibernation". They will wedge themselves into every nook and cranny to try to hide. Usually you can't shove them out too.
Keep a tight hood on, mine have never tried to jump, but they can be frightened by sudden movement and go at mach 5 around the tank, bumping into everything. I don't think they have very good eyesight, they mostly use their little barbly mouths to find things (including your fingers).
They love company of their own kind, often piling on each other and curling up.
There has been almost no reported incedents of breeding, but if you do a search on google for the dojo loach, a ways down, one person had their dojo loach breed and get little dojo babies in their filter!
Sorry for the long post, I just love my dojos!

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Thanks for replying GuppyGirl! I'm going to put lead weights at the bottom of my plants in a minute - if I can find some!........ Anyway, will 2 be ok then, as you said that they like eachothers company?
Again, thanks for replying!
EDIT: ) Sorry, didn't realise you said you had 2!

 

[guppygirl]

You're welcome!
Yep, lead weights become gold very soon.
They get about jumbo hotdog size, in fact, they're delicacies in asia, they fry them and then eat them.
Here, I'll include some pictures of my dojos.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

They'e so cute! I'm really excited now!

 

[troutfly]

To give you a heads up concerning the BGK. I have encountered 3 of them, they are sensitive to water conditions. I have unfortunately lost 2 prior due "mis-information" by box type fish stores(Petco,Petsmart&Wal-Mart are famous for this). I recently transported one from Los Angeles to Redding(34 hours in a bag) it has adjusted fine in my 55gal. and is doing really well. They are also "affectionate" fish and will eat freeze dried tube worms right from your fingers. The BGK has the ability to grow up to 18" in a tank so a 55gal. or bigger is recomended for their habitat. Be sure to give the BGK a place to hide, I have a few castles in my tank and "it" plays hide and seek when the light is on. Feeding the BGK at night or with the tank light off because they are nocturnal. If you really want a show, watch "it" swin with the light is off. Have fun and enjoy you new additions.

I don't see a problem with the Dojo competing for food with your other bottom dwellers, but I do have a 5" sail fin pleco who has a habit of gorging on the food I give to my firemouths in their tank, but that will probably cease once they get bigger. (1-m/1-f:2inches)

 

[nc_nutcase]

My BGK will not come to the surface for food so he is being spoiled with nightly frozen foods (the Severums don't complain either...). I found that feeding him a few minutes before I turn out the lights encourages him to venture out in the day light; it seems to be working.

 

[dolly_daydream]

You're welcome!
Yep, lead weights become gold very soon.
They get about jumbo hotdog size, in fact, they're delicacies in asia, they fry them and then eat them.
Here, I'll include some pictures of my dojos.

hi
im in uk and i have 2 of those in my goldfish tank over here there called weather loach and they are very tame heres a picture of mine

and another here he is in his house

over here there sold as cold water fish

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Great - thanks to you all for replying! Dolly, I read earlier that they can live in coldwater tanks, too!
And thanks to nc and Troutfly for the info on the BGK!

 

[guppygirl]

Yep, they can exist almost anywhere. Right now I have them in my high ph african cichlid tank.
I had them in my 6.0 planted tank too.
There was also one found in a maryland river a couple of years ago!

 

[Ben]

what tank size do ya have?

DD

 

[guppygirl]

Well, my 55 gallon is the planted tank, and my african tank is a 29.
They do like alot of swimming room lengthwise.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Nuttygal! :0)

I have a weather loach in my 55 gallon cory tank, and find they get along just fine with the corys. They are very active and when he swims through a group of them that are sitting on the sand, the jump up and then just settle back down after he has passed.

Do keep in mind that he will be a big eater and will eat the same food your corys do, so be sure to put in enough. Flake food; live, frozen of freeze dried worms, and an occasional algae wafer or spirulina disk will be appreciated by all.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Hi everyone! I bought 2 dojos and 2 BGKs on Thursday! They've all settled in fine, tho I was a bit worried because I went on holiday on Friday and didn't kno how they'd be! But they're doin great! Thanks for all your advice - Inchworm, guppygirl, DD, Dolly, nc, and troutfly! I love the little guys!