Solitary Loaches

[Stewey956]

Are there any?

[starsplitter7]

So you mean are there any loaches that like to live alone?

[Diana]

Within the group referred to as Tiger Loaches are several species that are more aggressive than most Loaches, better kept alone, or with very carefully selected tank mates.

What sort of set up are you thinking about?
Tank size?
Decor?
Tank mates?
Other info?

[Emma Turner]

Within the group referred to as Tiger Loaches are several species that are more aggressive than most Loaches, better kept alone, or with very carefully selected tank mates.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with that, Diana. Tiger loaches (Syncrossus sp.), like other botiids, are best kept in large groups. It is quite cruel to keep them on their own. Yes they are far more aggressive than many other loaches, but they still require company of their own kind and form a natural hierarchy as do many species. Large groups of them actually help to spread the aggression. You just have to be careful with what you house them with in the first place. The aggression should not be such an issue if the correct tank mates are chosen, and it's not fair to supress their behaviour by keeping them singly.

Emma

[Stewey956]

What sort of set up are you thinking about?
Tank size?
Decor?
Tank mates?
Other info?

I am thinking of adding them to the tank to help eradicate a snail problem and I also got some interest in them. They look like very cool fish, and I wish to have a bottom feeder in my tank.

Tank size is 37Gal with around 10gal of leftover room.

Has a large rock with many holes big enough for 3-4inch fish planted with 2 types of Anubius, a cave like structure planted with Java Fern, a large Amazon Sword Plant, and Crytocoryne Lutea.

Currently the tank is a Tropical community. (Guorami, Cardinals, Platys, Mollys, Rasbora Hets, Danios, Minors, Otocinclus, and Mystery snails.)

Tank is kept at 79-80* and uses a Bio-Wheel Filter rated at 250 gallons per hour. Lights are on 10-12 hours a day.

[starsplitter7]

You should get a few Cories to take care of your bottom. They need their own food.

For clean up I have snails and shrimp.

FYI Tigers in your set up would probably kill your other fish.

[Stewey956]

Well I can hit 2 birds with oen stone on the snail problem with Loaches.

I went to the store and they recommend Kuhli Loaches.

I didn't pick any up yet.

[Doc]

I am thinking of adding them to the tank to help eradicate a snail problem and I also got some interest in them. They look like very cool fish, and I wish to have a bottom feeder in my tank.

You should want them because you like them and can provide the correct conditions for them. For snails problems you should look at why you have a snail problem! Overfeeding and poor maintenance contribute to snail problems and the best remedy is your own hands to sort the problem.

Tank size is 37Gal with around 10gal of leftover room.

What do you mean by this? Do you mean you are nearly fully stocked?

Has a large rock with many holes big enough for 3-4inch fish planted with 2 types of Anubius, a cave like structure planted with Java Fern, a large Amazon Sword Plant, and Crytocoryne Lutea.
Currently the tank is a Tropical community. (Guorami, Cardinals, Platys, Mollys, Rasbora Hets, Danios, Minors, Otocinclus, and Mystery snails.)

Tank is kept at 79-80* and uses a Bio-Wheel Filter rated at 250 gallons per hour. Lights are on 10-12 hours a day.

Some of those fish require very different water parameters and conditions to each other let alone most Loaches.

I do not mean to offend in any way and I apologise if this has but you need to look at what fish you have, do a little research into what they require and see if they fit into what you can provide.

Loaches are not a snail solution and should never be. Most require a lot of flow or very little and at least should have some of their natural and evolved requiements provided.

[Doc]

Well I can hit 2 birds with oen stone on the snail problem with Loaches.

I went to the store and they recommend Kuhli Loaches.

I didn't pick any up yet.

If you want to rid yourself of snails then feed less, increase your maintenance and tank upkeep and remove snails by hand.

Do not buy a fish to do your job for you, with Loaches you will find that although they may well target and consume most snails in the aquarium the snails will re-locate to areas that the fish cannot reach such as the internal areas of your filtration.

[Stewey956]

For the final time, I am not getting these just for snails.....SO pelase stop saying they are not a solution to them.

Yes, my tank is nearing its capacity.

I am not some new aquariest, I have had a Koi pond for over 10 years and always at least 4 tanks in my house.

The current tank setup I have is a tropical community and all the fish ahve gotten along fine with each other and I have yet to lose a single fish due to water problems.

[starsplitter7]

Kuhlies are generally not very interested in snails. I grow my snails in my Kuhlie tank. They may eat a few eggs and some very small snails, but I have never seen them eat one and I certainly have a healthy snail population in their tank.

I agree with Doc. Find out why you have so many snails, and fix that problem. Reduce feedings and the snails usually disappear. My snails keep my tanks clean and turn my sand, so I appreciate them.

You already have a mix of fish from different water chemistries -- hard and soft water fish mixed together, which isn't a good situation for either. Loaches in general like really strong water flow and your guorami won't appreciate that. Danios like strong flow, but like cooler water.

A lot of loaches will destroy your plants. Mine seem to really enjoy eating them, tearing them, digging them up.

[Stewey956]

Well after all this, I think I will just keep with my tank.

I developed an algae problem which my new Otos will take care of.

These probably attributed to the snails.

Its not a HUGE problem, it just annoys me to see them.

[Tinman]

Put some cucumber in your tank and leave it overnight, net it out when covered in snails....

[Stewey956]

I've put a rather large size of Squash in there, I never see any snails on it.

[Tinman]

try some meat like salami maybe,or lettuce weighted down