Loaches for a 40 Gallon

[corey236]

I just got a 3 foot long 40 gallon tank, what loaches would be good for a tank this size? Could I keep a couple dojo loaches in it?

[Diana]

You could indeed. They reach 6" or so pretty fast, then slow down.
I have a tank like this, and tank mates include Platies, Gold Barbs (look like Golfdish shape, but yellow-gold with black spots), Pearl Danios, and other cool water fish.
I just moved the Dojos to a longer tank, and I am seeing more of them. They are climbing in the mass of plants, and sort of draping themselves over the strands.

[corey236]

Awesome! I've always liked eel like fish and I wanted a golden dojo loach since I first saw them at petsmart!

[corey236]

How are they with your plants? I dont want to plant the tank all nice just to have them root it all up.

[Diana]

They do dig, one more than the other. I have ended up putting a large rock (3" diameter) over the root mass to get the plant to stay down. A couple of such rocks, one on each side of a plant can really make the difference between a floating plant and one that stays rooted. Once they are well established I have not had problems.

[Emma Turner]

Hi corey,

A 3ft long tank will be ok for juvenile Dojo loaches for a time, but be prepared to upgrade them to a tank at least 4ft long at some point in the not too distant future. Their unpredictable mad dashes around the tank means they need as much swimming length as possible. I'd recommend a a sand substrate as they do like to burrow occasionally, as well as it being kinder on their numerous sensory barbels.

Emma