Loaches Online Forum

Hi I am new to your forum and to loaches, but I have kept tropical fish for many years.

I have just introduced some to my 4' community tank, The tank is well planted with a couple of huge pieces of wood, one has a hole in the side, a place I thought they may make their own.
My question is are they being playful, or are they bullies? I did my research and thought they were fine for a community tank. But, they are chasing the tetras around somewhat. Not picking on anyone in particular, but just chasing. They have only been in the main tank for 24 hours, so maybe they are just settling in, or having fun as they were from a small tank. Is there any chance they will hound my fish or attack them?

I'd appreciate thoughts from experienced loach owners please. I've never kept these little guys before, and they seemed a great addition to my aquarium.

Thanks

Personally, i would say a bit of both, the Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki are a active and inquisitive Loach with a bold attitude. No harm will be done to other fish but they do pester docile fish around them. It's their reason of life....

They can be more of a nuisance in small numbers. If you have plenty of them then they will tend to keep their playfulness to each other. Not totally, though. There will always be some interaction between sids and other fish.

My sids are in with various tetra shoals and some striata without any problems. But that may be due to the number of them.

Hi, thanks for your replies. They are settling down a bit today. I will be increasing hte number of fish in my tetra schoals, so hopefully that will help too. I was also thinking of getting some glass catfish, they appear as though they like just 1 patch, again do you think the sids will be ok?

How many sids do you all own?

Thanks,

Graeme Robson wrote:Personally, i would say a bit of both

I'm with Graeme on this

Thank you all very much, I appreciate your experienced replies.

Jackie

Glass Cats are cool, they will pick a moderate flow area in the tank and just hang out there for hours...But if something comes their way, or there is food in the tank, they are very quick

Thanks Plyush. The sids appear to have taken a liking to my rummy noses, whether they just want them to play with them, who know? I will give them a couple of weeks to see if they settle down a bit, at the moment they have disrupted the harmony within the aquarium.

My 9 Sidthimunki,s now are quite possibly the longest inhabitants in my tank, they can be quite inquisitive, especially to new comers
Never seen em as bullies though
I have one that kept swimming along with a shoal of neon tetra's
When i rehomed the tetra's he finally decided that he defenitely is a Sidthimunki

I am relatively new to the wonderful world of chipmunk loaches, but my nine have been very docile. The school with my black neons, pair off to clean the tank, and try to play tag with my assorted kuhli's. I have not witnessed anything but docile playfulness. I hope to someday confirm that "the more is better" theory.

Mike