Loaches Online Forum

hi,i am looking to set up a 5 foot tank with a group of loaches at the momment i have 2 syno catfish and 5 large silver dollas 5 inch each in the tank, i was thinking of adding a group of botia berdmorie , helodes, and tiger 8-10 fish i know these are aggresive my question is how do you think they will get on with the silver dollas and any tips would be most welcome thanks kye

A 5ft tank would be pushing it for tiger loaches (members of the Syncrossus group). Some can grow to 25cm+ (10"+) and require a large amount of territory and swimming space. A tank over 6ft would be better to house adult tiger loaches long-term. I wouldn't imagine that housing them with silver dollars would be a problem, as they are quite boisterous fish themselves. But this would be providing you give all the fish enough space.

Emma

what are silverdollas? (sorry don't know all commen names of fish in english as a dutch person)

aquarioten.nl wrote:what are silverdollas? (sorry don't know all commen names of fish in english as a dutch person)

They are a fairly large characin that originates from South America, usually imported under the name Metynnis hypsauchen. To confuse things, there are other Metynnis species that are known as 'silver dollars' too. They get to a good 6" in an aquarium and will not only eat plants, they will devour them!

Emma

HI,THANKS FOR COMMENTS,
aquarioten ,my silver dollars are myleus schomburgkii a lovely fish silver with a black band down the side an american characin recommend them if you ever come across them.
thanks emma what attracted me to this idea is your shop in crowland visited several times i often stand and watch with awe the top loach tank would like to replicate a small piece of this my tank is 5x18x18 would a group of botia berdmorei work with one or two other types?great shop well worth a visit

Hi Kye,

Thank you for your nice comments about the shop! I know exactly which tank you are referring to, as in the evening times I often just stand there watching the tiger loaches for ages too!

You will be fine mixing Syncrossus berdmorei with other Syncrossus species such as hymenophysa and helodes, plus the tough little skunk loaches (Y. morleti) are absolutely fine with them too. I would imagine that they would do fine in a 5' x 18" x 18" tank for a time, but if you go for any of the larger-growing tiger loaches, like the helodes, they may well want upgrading to a slightly longer tank at some point in the future.
The Black Barred Myleus that you have are very nice fish, and I can't see any major problems arising in housing them with the loaches in a big tank.

Emma

thanks emma,will do a little more homework then will give a group a try always had clown loaches and yo yo ,not untill visited crowland have i seen such groups of different loaches stunning collection liked the pic of tangled loaches yes thats the tank that took my eye.thanks for info