Loaches Online Forum

Hello loach lovers! I have a new pipe dream: a pit greenhouse for raisng fish, plants, salamanders, and aquatic invertebrates. My main goal is to breed certain salamanders and North American stream fishes that enjoy a winter cooldown. Temps in the greenhouse will range from the upper 30s F in winter to the low 70s F in summer. I can of course use heaters to raise individual tank temps a few degrees above the ambient if necessary.

Which loaches are likely to thrive and possiby breed in these conditions? Besides dojos, anyways.

Thanks!
Nathan

The european Stone loach, Spined loach and Weather loach Misgurnus fossilis can survive cool temps, though 30F is about -1C isn't it? And i dont know of any loach which can live in a block of ice.

Upper 30s F = 2-4 C. I don't intend to freeze my fishies!

Thanks for the suggestions. I will probably avoid Misgurnus, as they are invasive over here and several states have banned them already, but I like the Cobitis and Barbatula species. If I can find them here in the US I will definitely try them!

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Are there any temperate or higher-altitude hillstream speces that would do well in this sort of setup?