Loaches Online Forum

This is a two part question:

Part 1: I have just purchased (rescued, actually) 9 new clown loaches to bring my total up to 10. The issue I'm having is that the 9 new ones don't seem to be eating much or at all, despite the fact that in every other way they appear healthy (schooling, dancing, and playing). The one I purchased 2 weeks ago is eating everything in sight. I've tried OSI shrimp pellets (the usual staple food for my loaches), Sera Vipa chips, flake food, and even an algae wafer. They just don't seem interested. I'll be trying bloodworms this evening. This is day 4 and they don't look skinny yet, so I'm not overly worried at this point, but I would like some suggestions before things get worse.

Part 2: This is a brand new 90 gallon tank (fully cycled) that has 10 clown loaches, 6 golden zebras, 2 yoyos, and a kubotai loach in it. Yes, I know that someday I will need a larger tank, but that is a long time from now as the clowns are only 1.5 inches long at this time. Also housed in the tank are 3 featherfin catfish (synodontis euptera): Larry, Moe, and Curly. They ignore the loaches and the loaches ignore them for the most part. My question is this: What would be a good dither fish to add to this mix? I'm looking for a schooling fish that will swim in the center of the tank but not be bothered by the strong flow from the powerheads, and also not be nippy or aggressive towards the other fish at all. The last thing I want is to add fish that start biting at the long, flowing dorsal fin extensions on my beautiful catfish.

Specs: Ammonia 0, Nitrite: 0, nitrates 10, pH: 7.5 (darn tapwater), temp 78 F.

Flavor the food with garlic.

Red Line Barbs might be a good mid-level fish to add. Congo Tetras are also big enough to work with the fish you have. There are many Rainbow Fish. They are social rather than schooling, but are generally good with other species. Clown Barbs stay a bit smaller. Mine did not school, though. Giant Danios might be worth looking into. There are several related species, not all are called Giant Danios, but research if they are nippers.

Im not sure I would go with the red line barbs (P. denisonii) because they prefer much cooler temps than clowns.

The bloodworms were a hit the other night, and I tried pre-soaking the shrimp pellets with some garlic and that seemed to increase their interest a bit. I've also tried several other prepared fish foods since then with moderate success. They do pick at the food a bit, but it's not the feeding frenzy I'm used to seeing with loaches, hence my concern. They all still look healthy and energetic with no apparent signs of wasting, so I think they are eating enough to keep them going.
Maybe their appetites will increase as they get more accustomed to their surroundings. At this point they're still doing a lot of dancing, making me think that they aren't quite feeling "at home" yet. The other loaches are starting to act a bit more settled in, but still spend a lot of their time dancing with the clowns, so maybe I just need to be patient with them.

As for the dither fish, I've looked into the suggestions offered and I think I'll go with either giant danios or some type of rainbow fish. I know that the danios are readily available locally, but I'd have to do further research if I am to go the other route to find out which species of rainbows are available and if they would be a good fit.

As long as the algae wafers sit around on the bottom a while they'll get enough nibbles. Next time you do bloodworms drop in other foods at the same time and see if they take a bite of them while madly dashing around for the worms.

I keep rainbows in my loach tank and they get along really well.

Currently the clowns seem to be slowly coming around to the shrimp pellets, and in the mean time I have plenty of blood worms to keep their tummies full. Tonight, for the very first time, the entire school reacted at feeding time by coming around to the front of the tank in a single group as soon as I put the food in the water. This feels like progress to me.
I'm also considering ordering some Hikari Sinking Wafers, which my other loaches absolutely loved but can only be obtained by special order at my LFS.

I'm still not sure whether I'll go with rainbows or danios, and I honestly think either would be fine. My decision will be based mostly on availability and price.

Thank you, everyone, for your help and suggestions.