Loaches Online Forum

I'm considering placing an order with Frank's Aquarium and setting up a loach tank with one (or more?) of the following species. I'm looking for suggestions/recommendation as to whether any of these will work in a 20Long (30" x 12" x 12"). I'm thinking maybe a single species tank with dithers since the tank size isn't that large. I know some of these need higher current so this will be a river tank if I go with one of those species.

Options:
Pangio anguillaris
Schistura beavani
Schistura savona
Mesonoemacheilus triangularis
Acanthocobitis botia

Thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks

Hi, aquachromis,

they probably all work, but Zippers and Zodiacs are larger fishes, and either probably will be a bit happier in a 30g. (I, incidentally, have Frank's Zippers and very happy with them... and they are imho the most entertaining of the species you listed).

The other three should be fine in a 20g.

With schistura's, make sure that the terrain allows for hiding places, these are territorial.
With Pangio, you don't need much of a current, but make really sure that the filters are safe: kuhlis tend to get into inappropriate places and the anguillaris I've seen recently are very small, likely to get inside any filter other than bubble.

Incidentally, thermalis offered by Frank is another fine option.

hth

If placed in a typical loach setup i.e. rocks pebbles wood etc , the Zodiac loaches [M.Triangularis ] can be very territorial , i.e. fighting constantly ! however if placed in a tank with nothing but sand or gravel , [not very asthetic] then they seem to coexist fine ! i currantly have 11 in this type of setup ! actually there are a few wool mops , but nothing more , and they get along fine .

Frank has them in his own tank and he said that he observed no aggression; his tank is a 150g proper loach tank....

I have this feeling sometimes that the rumors of loach aggression are often exaggerated....

Well, I think I've decided to go with a river tank. Several years ago, on the old LOL forum, I posted about creating a river tank for this same size tank (20 long).

I dug up the old post and this was the advice at the time...Martin suggested 3 return pipes, one Aquaclear 802, and one 4"dia. 4" high sponge filter. This was early 2004. Does this still sound good or have opinions changed?

Thanks

Mesonoemacheilus sp. are pretty aggressive as loaches go, actually. When going for these, you either want a compatible pair or a large group of 10+, in my opinion. Any less, and they will whittle their numbers down until just one or two are left.

Emma

mikev wrote:
I have this feeling sometimes that the rumors of loach aggression are often exaggerated....

general statements can get you in trouble--
heck my eos will nip you in the butt..

I've decided to go with one of the Schistura species. Probably beavani. I ordered the power head today and I plan on picking up the tank and plumbing this weekend.

So, should I stick with a single species since the tank isn't that large? Would I be able to add any other hillstreams? Also, what would be a recommended dither fish, if any?