Loaches Online Forum

I'm cycling a tank right now, but I was wondering if I can add loaches immediately after my cycling is done?

I wouldn't. Many really do better in mature tanks.

How are you cycling your tank? Is this a new tank?

How big is the tank?

What other fish do you have?

What kind of loaches are you thinking about?

starsplitter7 wrote:I wouldn't. Many really do better in mature tanks.

How are you cycling your tank? Is this a new tank?

How big is the tank?

What other fish do you have?

What kind of loaches are you thinking about?

New tank, fishless cycling w/ ammonia, 60 gallon. Getting clown loaches. Plan to put in tiger barbs with it (but still deciding on tankmates so this isn't set in stone).

Will eventually move clowns to a 125 gallon or bigger when they start getting too big for the 60.

If this is a planted tank then I would go for it.

The fishless cycle grows a lot of nitrifying bacteria, but not so much all the other microorganisms that are found in a more mature tank. If there are live plants they bring in a much larger population of all the other things and the tank can be considered more mature, sooner.

This is not to say that Loaches will die if there is not a full compliment of microorganisms, they may do just fine. Still, some fish just do better in a more mature tank.

Ah, actually it WILL be a planted tank. I do have many plants that will be in the tank once I finish attaching them to driftwood.

Speaking of plants, I understand that java fern and anubias are good for clown loaches - any other plants I should look at to put in?

Younger Clowns do not seem to bother plants much, though some Clowns dig more than others. I have heard reports that older Clowns seem to tear up larger leaves like Echinodorus.
I have some large leafed Crypts with my Clowns and they are growing, not getting shredded.
Other plants in there include Cabomba, Val (one of the taller ones, not spiralis) and water lettuce.

Loaches prefer a more mature water than the one after cycling. I would advise you to wait tank to cycle, introduce their tankmates first and wait a month or two before adding the Loaches.