Changing tank over to a cold water loach tank, need help.

[Felhad]

Hi there guys. I felt bad about hearing that I was keeping my Dojos on the very high side of their temperature variant (75 degrees), and I decided to trade in a few of my warmer water fish to make it into a loach tank. I wanted to know which fish could stay and which fish would have to go, as well as what other loaches are cold water varieties. the temperature will probably be moving down to about 70 degrees. Here are the species I currently have:

Long-finned Leopard Danio
Pimelodus pictus (Catfish)
Transparent Knife
Long-tailed Guppy

I just need to know what fish can stay, and also what kinds of loaches could be added, and also whether or not it would be a good idea to add a third or possibly more dojos, because I absolutely love them. The tank is 45g (3' wide, 2' tall, 1' deep). Thanks a bunch guys, and I can't wait to be a very proud loachdad!

[tariesindanrie]

Hi Felhad,

I would think the only fish you have listed there that you could keep safely at 70 degrees, other than the Dojos of course, would be the Danio and the Guppy. The cat and very definitely, that knife are going to need a 75-82 degree range to stay healthy. I'd move them out to a warmer tank and add a few more Dojos if I were you!

Kate

[Felhad]

Thanks for the quick reply Kate How many dojos do you think I could safely keep in here for several years preferably? I may in the future get a bigger tank, but i'm just starting college and am therefore in a bit of a budget. the dojos are definitely my favorite Also, will regular Dojos and Goldens mix? and how about Kuhlis? Or are Kuhlis not cold water?

[tariesindanrie]

You are most welcome.

Kuhlis need warmer water also- in the 78 to 82 degree range.

There shouldn't be any problem keeping regular and golden Dojos together, but they do live a really long time (like 15 years) and they grow to be rather large (9" or so). I think I'd only add another one, maybe two- provided you don't have a school of guppies and danios in there already- I didn't see a number associated with those in your post, so I assumed one of each?

Kate

[Felhad]

I only have 1 guppy and 2 danios, but i'd love another dojo. Three would be good for this size?

I'd like to have a small school of something just to occupy the middle space.

[Martin Thoene]

A 4 foot tank is really much better for Dojos. They're such lively fish that they need lots of room.

Martin.

[tariesindanrie]

Martin makes a valid point- and since 'just starting college' usually translates to 'I have very little space to work with, and even less money'....you may want to keep the status quo for now- minus the warmer water occupants!

Kate

[mikev]

And then there is a reverse option: replace the dojos by a similar tropical species (e.g. Guntea). They are also smaller, so the current tank should be perfect. Extra bonus: kuhlis should be ok too.

BTW, it is best to have more Danios too, 2 is not much of a shoal...

[Felhad]

Yeah, I was gunna get more danios. Probably keep about 6 of them and trade in the cat, knife, and guppy. I really like the dojos, should I just keep the 2 or would 3 be better? I'm moving into a house in a year, so I may get a bigger tank at that point.

[Felhad]

Also if it makes any difference, they're only about 3" right now.

[mikev]

IMHO, 4 would be better, especially if you think you'll be able to upgrade a bit. With tradein, you should be fine on the bioload, just not on the play space.

Just make sure to quarantine new fish.

[Felhad]

I'd love to have 4 of the guys. So 4 with a group of about 6 Danios should be ok?

[mikev]

I'd love to have 4 of the guys. So 4 with a group of about 6 Danios should be ok?

Even more will be ok at this time; you can estimate by the inch/gallon rule. If you are certain you can upgrade (to, for example, 4' 55g) when your loaches reach 5", then loaches take 4*5"=20g. You have 20g left for the Danios (or another loach, or something else suitable for colder water.)

BTW, you may also consider new GLO danios. They are the same species as yours, and a mix of Danios of different colors would look interesting.

[Felhad]

Thanks a bunch guys, I can't wait to get my new additions

[Felhad]

I'm also considering trading them all in (Not the Dojos) and getting a school of Barbs. Do any Barbs coexist well with Dojos? I was looking at Rosy Barbs, sicne they're temperature range falls within the 70 of my tank.