Loaches and guppies?

ispegi · Post by **ispegi** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:18 am

I have a tank full of room temp guppies with a snail problem. Someone recommended a dwarf botia (chain loach) to eat the snails. Is this a good tank match? Or is there another kind of small loach that could help me out?

I had a weather loach for many years but he always lived alone.

poeticpyro · Post by **poeticpyro** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:26 am

dwarf loach
botia striata

i think that's about it... or even a raphael cat.

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:03 am

What size is your aquarium, and what is the temperature of the tank? Room temperature obviously varies depending on where you are located, and some loach species will not be happy at lower temperatures. Also, bear in mind, that any Botia species must be kept in groups - preferably 5 or more - as they are incredibly social creatures.

Emma

ispegi · Post by **ispegi** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:37 pm

I've got a 30l and a 40l. The room temp, I think is 20-24 degrees C.

NancyD · Post by **NancyD** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:34 pm

I think you may be asking for trouble. Even the most gentle- tempered of fish will have a hard time resisting slow moving guppies' long, beautiful fins. Like fish food flakes wafting in the current.
Nancy

poeticpyro · Post by **poeticpyro** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:57 pm

wouldn't a rapheal cat work??

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:32 pm

Personally I think that your tanks are too small for any type of Botia. 'Raphael cats' are a catch-all name used for various doradid catfish. These get quite big (depending on which species) and they are notorious for their nocturnal feeding on small fish. So I wouldn't recommend those either.

Emma

ispegi · Post by **ispegi** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:42 pm

Oh well, thanks anyway. At least you've all helped me not make a mistake!

crazie.eddie · Post by **crazie.eddie** » Wed May 24, 2006 8:35 am

If you have a friend that has some loaches, borrow them for awhile.

Tery · Post by **Tery** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:42 pm

I've got 3 spotted raphaels. I don't have snails so don't know if they eat them or not, or, maybe, as they're in a planted tank, that means they do eat them. Anyway. my raphaels are close to 20 years old, huge (around that is), and have lasted through many stages of fishkeeping. I feed them at night after I turn the lights out, they have never eaten any of my fish. I have had fish as small as juvenil (<1/2") rasbora espei in with them. One of the three thinks its a clown loach, the other two are best buds with my panda cories. Sorta like the circus tall man & Tom Thumb.

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