Loaches Online Forum

ok so i know it seems odd but my 2 yoyo loaches are not just chasing but seemingly sort of latching on to and tormenting my bumble bees! they race around the tank while bumble tries to get away but cant ...until i intervene...is this normal?
also in the tank are 3 demasoni cichlids and a frontosa and a very larg pleco. there are 3 bumble bees as well

Yes, this behavior is perfectly normal - You are housing incompatible fish in the same tank. For many reasons, cichlids and loaches do not belong together, particularly African cichlids such as the ones you have. It IS a bit surprising that your loaches are the aggressors, but this only serves to further show that your poor fish have no idea how to cope with each other.

This article does a fantastic job of explaining the vast differences in care and temperament between loaches and cichlids:

http://www.loaches.com/articles/why-loa ... i-cichlids

As a general rule, African cichlids should be kept in tanks specifically set up for African cichlids, and loaches should be kept in community tanks set up with their particular needs in mind. Also, loaches are social creatures and should be kept in groups of at least 3 of each species in a given tank.

"this only serves to further show that your poor fish have no idea how to cope with each other"

Well put. I agree with the reply. I couldn't have said it better.