Loaches suitable for 30 gal long tank?

[GotTanked]

Hey,
I am brand new here. I have never owned a Loach before and after learning about Yoyo Loaches I would love to have some but I know they're just too big for a 30 gal tank, even a long one (although Wikipedia disagrees).

I am currently in the process of setting up a 30 gal long tank from the ground up, and I'd love to have some sort of loaches. Will any fit?

I also want to have a soft substrate, lots of plants, driftwood, and rocks (with plenty of snug to large caves and hiding spots) which I know loaches will dig.

Please let me know! Thanks.

[loachmom]

Hi, and welcome.

Any of the pangios would work great in a 30 gallon, and also a nice shoal of Botia sidthimunki. I'm sure others will be along to offer other suggestions, too.

[starsplitter7]

I think a good group of Sids with dithers would be great.

[Jim Powers]

That could also make a great hillstream loach river tank.
(What did you folks think I would say.? )

[GotTanked]

The Hillstreams are beautiful, surely, but I am not really going for that kind of tank set-up.

The sids, though, look awesome!

From the species page: The smallest member of the Botiine loach group, this species can often be seen exhibiting an unusual behaviour for loaches - that of shoaling above the bottom of the aquarium, often in mid-water, and during daylight hours.

I am buying this tank because I have to upgrade my Tiger Barbs - they're getting too big/nasty for my 10 gal tank. Will the mid-water shoaling lead to trouble?

Thanks for the advice. Definitely looks like the fish for me, if a group of 5 would get along with the Barbs.

[Ravenmoon]

I second the Sids...a nice shoal would be really cool.

[Diana]

Kinda tricky working with Tiger Barbs. I would suggest going with a more nocturnal Loach, perhaps certain Kuhlies, rather than a Loach that will be in direct conflict with the Tiger Barbs' favorite location (mid tank).

I have kepts sids in a tank with pushy tank mates and the sids hid all the time. (I had to tear the tank down to the last grain of substrate to get the sids out)

[GotTanked]

Do you know of any specific khuli species that are shaped more like the yoyos and sids? I like those more than the eel-shaped loaches.

I am hoping for a goofy loach that would loaf around in my tank and sleep on different surfaces.

Edit: Also want to thank you all for the wonderful suggestions! I know I've got a very specific set of requirements, so thanks for working with me.

[GotTanked]

Just a bump - which Kuhli loaches are readily available in a 2-3 in size? I have come to terms with their eel-like body shape and I am excited to have a small shoal in my tank, when it is ready.

[loachmom]

Hello,

All of my pangios have been at least 2" when I purchased them, if I remember correcty. I have both the striped pangios and P. oblonga. Although I like my striped pangios for their interesting patterns, I must say that the oblonga are the most entertaining. They are out and about most of the day poking around looking for food. Get at least six of them, as they are very social.

[GotTanked]

Sorry to be unclear - I'd like a Kuhli that stays small, I wasn't really asking about purchase size.

The tank will already have 5 tiger barbs - ~12 in of fish. Which Kuhlis wouldn't overload my tank?

Thanks!

[loachmom]

Hi,

Here is thread where I asked exactly the same question:
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... ght=kuhlis


I should add that I've kept more than twenty kuhlis in my thirty gallon with no problems, but the tank is heavily filtered.

Also, here is a link to the loach species index:
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/species-index

If you scroll down to the pangio section, you can look up the different pangios (kuhlis). I don't think they get much larger than 4" total length.