Loaches Online Forum

A recent thread suggested options for loaches in a 10 gal tank. What loaches would be appropriate for a 20L?

Everything that is currently in my 20L is being moved to a 20H. This leaves me with a perfect loach tank. I am hoping to put 3 Tiger Botia Loaches (Botia hymenophysa) in this tank. Will this work? If not, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks

Wendy

Tiger loaches (hymenophysa, helodes, berdmorei) are all very agressive species. Just something to keep in mind...in effect you'd be setting up a tank that would be specifically for agressive species, not a 'peaceful' community tank

Tanks of agressive fish can be fun, too. Just be aware that they will need tank mates that can either run REALLY fast, or are able to hold their own against their pushy personalities.

Hi wbzorker, Syncrossus hymenophysa get too big (around 8") for a 20 gallon tank and their aggressiveness would likely result in mayhem in that size tank anyway.

A 20 gallon tank is limiting when it comes to loaches. You could choose kuhlis, a small group of Yasuhikotakai sidthimunki(sids) or if you like stripey fish Botia striata. Most other species will only be suitable as youngsters and eventually will need bigger quarters.

Martin.

Two more possibilities:

Polka-Dots with some bright dither fish.

Skunks (and probably nothing else...maybe a small pleco).

hth.

One more less obvious choice would be a river tank!
A nice long tank would be great for some hillstreams and with some white clouds for dithers.
Erik

Lang Tanganyika Shell-Dwelling Cichlids are ideal for a small tank, as they don't tend to stray more than 3" from their shells, but they need agressive/resilient tank mates as they punch way above their weight and will draw blood if your fingers stray too near their shells at breeding time!
Lamprologus Brevis, Ocelatus and Speciosis are good examples, best with a sand or fine gravel substrate

I keep mine with some Juv Syno catfish, a Juv Bristlenose and some leapard Danios as dithers. When I move the catfish on into the big tank, I will try some small loaches in there to see how they get on.

If you are doing a river Tank then Lamprologus Congoensis are fascinating but when I had one in my small tank, he kept biting the tails off the dither fish one night and eating them the next....he is in my big tank now and gets on Ok with the polka-dots, he has lovely teeth!

Erik wrote:One more less obvious choice would be a river tank!
A nice long tank would be great for some hillstreams and with some white clouds for dithers.
Erik

I agree 100%. I actually have a 20 long setup as a river tank using 3 AquaClear 201 powerheads, a Whisper 30 HOB filter and a couple of airstones.

Besides the hillstreams, maybe a trio of darios?

I was using the 20 long to grow out 3 baby skunk loaches a while back, but they out grew the tank pretty quickly.

Whatever you decide to do, just don't let that tank stay empty for too long