Loaches Online Forum

Hi Folks.

This is one brilliant forum. I have leant so much by reading the topics. I live in Sri Lanka where I don't get to too many varieties of loaches for sale. I have only seen clowns, kuhis and zebra loaches. I'm also in the process of building 10 feet by 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet freshwater tank, which will be set into my (newly constructed house) wall. I plan to mainly keep the above mentioned loaches. I plan to run a river manifold (thanks to the loaches.com). I would love some advice on what other fish I can keep with these guys. I was initially planning on some sliver sharks and red finned sharks and maybe some barbs. I have no plans on over stocking the tank. By the way I'm getting the filter system custom made by an experienced fish guy (who is also making my tank)

Thanks Namal

Hi namal,

Can't wait to see the tank. Sounds amazing.

and welcome to LOL. How long have you been lurking?

Have been keeping fish of various types for over 10 years. But stopped for the last 4 years when I lost all my prized clowns and kulhi when my main tank broke and the water leaked out, when I got home it was too late. (5 feet tank). Have been keeping a number of tanks with mollies, swordtails, goldfish and Oscars, all were donated after the accident. So when I started to build a house it was natural to want to get back. I started to research loaches on the web and I found this great forum. Should have a fully functioning tank by end of august. Will post pictures then. Any advice on any tank mates for my loaches?

In a 10' tank you have a million options.
(well, maybe not a million in the tank...)

Nice size schools first off, and then the choices are multitudinous. What do you like?

Hi Namal. Welcome to Loaches Online!

Hi Namal and welcome! your tank plans sound great

i personally would avoid the silver sharks, as although they would be fine in that size tank, most people dont realise just how HUGE they can get - and with plenty of space like you have i would imagine they wouldnt get stunted like most people's do. i just think that they would severely restict your options for other fish, as you very responsibly say you dont want to over stock.

you can get some wonderfull barbs here - hopefully you can find lots in Sri Lanka too. Emma has some beautifull filamentosa barbs i think in her tank, and they look great. she has clowns in a 10 foot tank too. common barbs like tiger barbs are nicely stocky when they are adults, so a big shoal could be good. how about rasboras? you can get some beautifull coloured species that grow to a good size that should be happy with current and warmer temperatures

Hi namal, and welcome to Loaches Online.

With an aquarium that size, you have plenty of options. However, I would still recommend that you choose only 3 or 4 species and have XL shoals of each. Not only is this more natural for the fish (many of the loaches have complex social structures amongst their large groups) but visually it is very appealing compared to just a few each of lots and lots of different species.

My tank is not as long as Helen has mentioned above - it is 7ft long but because of the extra width and height, is 1000 litres in volume. This houses Clown loaches (around 40 of them - don't know the exact number) and about 18 Puntius filamentosus. Recently I added 6 of the rare Emperor Botia, and apart from one or two 'odd fish' that I've had for years and years, that is it as far as species goes. I wouldn't go adding anything different to this tank now.

I'm a great fan of barbs, and in the UK we are lucky that there are so many available to us hobbyists these days. Hopefully the situation is similar where you are. If you are going for clown loaches, I'd say go for some of the medium sized barb species, such as Puntius filamentosus, P. everetti, P. johorensis, P. arulius, P. tambraparnei, P. fasciatus or even your native Puntius cumingii (although these don't tend to grow quite as large as the aforementioned species). Other options would include the medium-large sized Rasbora species or Rainbowfish.

I wouldn't recommend keeping the Kuhli loaches in the same tank as the clown loaches/Botia striata, as the Kuhlis prefer much calmer waters.

Hope this helps, and keep us updated with what you choose to go with. We'd love to see some photos of the tank in due course.

Emma

Thanks everyone for the replies and advice.
Yes I understand the problem with silver sharks. I’ve had a few large individuals in the past. I had to return then (for an exchange to the aquarium shop) when they got big. There are definitely plenty of different varieties of barbs available in Sri Lanka. The issue of sharing the same tank with clown and kulhis may not be a problem as I haven’t seen any Kulhis for sale in years. Apparently they don’t sell very well as the owners don’t get to see them at day time.
I also saw a fresh water lobster for sale (small guy about 2inches). Any idea if the clowns will have him for dinner. Or once the lobster gets bigger the other way round? I know that clowns love snails.

Hi again Namal,

I wouldn't recommend keeping the lobster with any fish, particularly with bottom-dwellers like clown loaches. Depending on the species, it could get quite large and will make short work of many fish.

Emma

Yes, I was going to mention that it might be more a danger to the clowns than the lobster. Do they molt?

hi..nice to see another new member.. i am fairly new here too, but have been lurking for some time... i would have to agree with adding several of a few species over a few of several species...i can't wait to see your tank all set up...clown loaches are so fun to watch, especially in large groups...i have tons of tetras in with my loaches and they seem to make excellent dithers, although i've heard that loaches like to eat them, but if you are starting off with smaller clowns then they should be alright... i like them because they are irredescent, and make pretty schools through my plants... good luck with your setting up and i can't wait to see pics.