Battling burmese loaches (botia histrionica)

[mduros]

I have two burmese loaches in my 55 gallon community tank that fight constantly. I have 4 of them and 2 yoyo loaches. The tank is planted with lots of driftwood and hiding spots. I can post a small clip of them fighting if it will help. I was watching them go at it for an hour last night, all of their color drains from them and they just go at it and don't stop. I've had these fellas for 3 months, and my boyfriend who is home during the day said that they never stop and if they were going to kill each other they would have done it long before now.

Is this something I should be concerned about? Or is it just their way of "interacting" with each other. I have always seen them doing it, but they have grown so much and you can see all of the other fish in the tank just avoiding whatever area they are in now because of the constant squabbling.
Thanks, and take care,
Mary.

[Mad Duff]

Sounds like it is a dominance thing Mary, I have Sidthimunki that do the very same thing, lose all their and fight for spar for hours on end and once one or the other backs down everything is fine again

[mduros]

Thanks Duff! I won't post pics or worry about it anymore, then. I just expect loaches to be nice, happy, schooling fish without quarrels. But obviously, individuals will be individuals, I guess. And like I said, as bad as it looks sometimes, both of them are growing, beautiful, and apparently happy doing whatever it is they are doing...
Take care,
Mary.

[Emma Turner]

Mary,

If you have room in this tank, it would be worth you upping the numbers of both loach species so that you have at least 5 or 6 of each type. Not only are larger shoals more natural for them, but it will also help to spread any aggression somewhat, so that no one individual constantly bears the brunt of it all.

Emma