Yesterday I have set up the breeding tank for the Cobitis. It is a 60cm/~23 inch tank. In the left corner you can see the female.
On the right is a "spawning bowl" This set up I have from Joerg Bohlen, he told me that
Cobitis prefer moss as spawn substrate. On the bowl is a fly screen and thereon a bunch of javamoss. I've masked three sides of the tank with dark paper. In this way the loaches feel more secure. It is illuminated by a small spotlight (sometimes) and indirectly from another tank on my desk.
Last night they worked hard, I've found some sand in the bowl but nothing else.
Currently the temp is 21°C and in a few days I start to warm up the water. Step by step till ca. 25°C. But the next days I'll do nothing, only a generous feeding of living tubifex.

the female (12cm/4,7inch) while digging

the male (8cm/3,15inch), much smaller but I hope he is old enough...
I have no idea how long does it take, maybe till spring of early summer. But I hope some day I can report a success.
Bye,
Thomas