Loaches Online Forum

Hey there,

I put three 5-6 inches clown loaches into my 75 gallon african cichlid (mbuna) tank (pH 7.6) several days ago. So far, they are fine with my mbuna. But I got the problem of feeding.

I feed my mbunas every night with cichlid pellet (NLS) and some algae flake. but the loaches are too shy to be coming out and eat . Alalways after 30 seconds, there is nothing left. I know my loaches are hungry, and I put some "Sinking vegetable wafers" into the tank to let loaches to eat, but my cichlids are too crazy and ate all the wafers within 10 mins. And my loaches tried but got nothing. And I always feed my loaches with shrimp and bloodworms when they were in the other tank. But now, I am afraid to do that since most of my mbuna are herbivores and can't accept those food, I think.

I tried to use PVC pipe to feed them, but it didn't work. Since the pipe scared the loaches and they run away when they saw the pipe.

So please help! How can I feed my loaches? And what should I feed them to let them get balanced nutrition! Thanks!

Any suggestion would be highly appreciated!!!

You need separate aquariums for these 2 types of fish. You cannot meet both their needs in one tank.

Have a read through this article: http://www.loaches.com/articles/why-loa ... i-cichlids

Emma

Ok, I see! thanks!

I will separate them as soon as I can.

That's great to hear. We'd love to see some photos of your loaches once they are in their new tank.

Emma

are these ciclids? found this on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vEzQ-5SeiE

Wow! COOL!

yep, just these cichlids. In that video, there are Hap/mbuna with clown loaches.

Amazing! But I am still thinking separate tank for mine.

I think the fact that each Clown Loach has tattered fins through obvious nipping from the cichlids just goes to show another reason why they shouldnt be kept together

There are also Tanganyikan cichlids in that mix too.

How can someone be proud enough to want to display such a disgraceful tank/mix of fish on youtube? Those poor clown loaches.

Emma

From what I could see every clown loach had damaged or severely damaged dorsal fins.

And they were certainly on the thinner, athletic side. Guess they run a lot.

Also, the big part of their being so skinny is having to compete for food. This is apparent when they want to swim to the surface.

until you do manage to switch them to a new tank, try feeding the loaches with the lights off.

Mad Duff wrote:I think the fact that each Clown Loach has tattered fins through obvious nipping from the cichlids just goes to show another reason why they shouldnt be kept together

Yea, I feel sorry for those Clowns in that Video. If the loaches were Modestas, all those Cichlids would be in trouble for their life.