Loaches Online Forum

Hello all,

I certainly don't mean to barge in here like this but after lurking a bit I've decided this is the best place to ask. I have 40 gallon (36x15x17 I believe) that I would love to turn into a loach-only tank. I am absolutely fascinated by these little guys. Problem is, I don't know in what direction to go in at this point.

What would you recommend that would thrive in this tank? In what number? I am already planning on sand, rocks, driftwood etc.. It's the animal part of the equation I am unsure of. Personally, I am a fan of the eel-shaped loaches.

Are there any who are coldwater other than the dojo?

I am not a beginner but I have never kept loaches before, so any advice you all could give me on this front would be much appreciated. Thanks!

40G?
Heaps of current (check river-tank schematics on this website), a few flowing plants in nice pots. Lovely. Dojo's should be fine with a little extra flow, and most of the lizard/river and hill-stream loaches (and cats, danios, white-clouds etc...) are better off at cooler temperatures.
A

I have a tank like that. (3' long, 40 gallons). It would work OK as a river tank, if you wanted Hillstream Loaches and similar fish.
It is a little bit small for Dojos.

If you wanted more of a community tank I would look into some of the medium sized or smaller Loaches like Kubotai, Zebras, Kuhlies, sids, and similar sized fish (say, 3" max. length) and work out a stocking plan with perhaps 2 species of Loaches (about 5 each, minimum) and a school of something that swims higher up in the tank. If you want to keep with an Asian theme, then perhaps Harlequin Rasboras.

Loaches in general prefer to see a school of something swimming calmly overhead. It helps them to feel safer, more willing to come out into the area where you can watch them.

Alrighty, I have no problems with dither fish. I wasn't planning on dojos, just playing around with the idea of a coldwater tank, but it's by no means a must.

Diana, what are you keeping in your tank?

Thanks!