Golden Loaches

[Goldie Keep]

I've just added a couple of Golden Loaches to my goldfish aquarium. They settled in straight away and started to feed immediately. The Goldfish are being kept amused by the new arrivals especially when one has a suck at the glass. They can't understand how the loach does it. I'm very pleased with the new additions to the tank but can't find much information about the Golden Loach. If anyone has any tips to pass on, please do. I am very willing to learn.

[ClownLoachSharky]

Do you mean dojo loaches?

[Goldie Keep]

I am very new to loaches and they were sold as Golden Loaches. They are small slender bodied fish of a sand colour which thrive on algae off the grit, ornaments and glass. They swim very fast and are running rings around the Goldfish. Their body shape is similar to that of the Dojo but they are not the same colour. I think I am correct in thinking that Dojos are silver?

[ClownLoachSharky]

It sounds like a golden dojo to me. A shame we can't keep them here in australia.

[Goldie Keep]

Why can't you keep them in Australia? Are there regulations banning the fish?

[redshark1]

This sounds like the golden form of the Sucking Loach Gyrinocheilus aymonieri to me.

There is lots of information about them on this site and elsewhere on the web.

[ClownLoachSharky]

Ohh that's an understatement. Practically every loach besides clowns and kuhlis aren't allowed to enter docks. And the dojos, well they have spread in rivers round australia but it is hard to fish them.

[Goldie Keep]

They do look like the Gyrinocheilus aymonieri. They are being kept with Goldfish and are doing a good job as substrate feeders. They hoover up anything left by the others.

As for trying to catch them. Well, the pet shop employee had a real job to ne one. They can move very fast for such small fish. I can quite understand the trouble that catching them in a river would pose. It was hard enough in a tank.

[ClownLoachSharky]

But in the river, they have lots swimming together so they can sweep them in masses.

[Goldie Keep]

I suppose another problem with any in the wild would be breeding. Once you have them, they would be hard to eradicate. It's just a shame that they are not allowed in for responsible fish keepers.

[ClownLoachSharky]

I know and I don't see how yoyo loaches aren't a threat and zebra loaches are

[redshark1]

Another point of interest is that Gyrinocheilus aymonieri are NOT loaches, but cyprinids (carp family), as are goldfish.

[Goldie Keep]

Interesting to hear that. I suppose because they resemble loaches they have been given that name.

Last night the tank was very boisterous. The goldfish were having a few battles and the loaches were nibbling at the goldies. They were specially interested in the lemon goldfish as it wasn't fighting as much as the common and commet. The battle begins when I drop flakes made by Tetra into the tank. Today I bought some flakes by Bob Martin and they haven't fought. The flakes don't smell and I'm wondering if it is tha aroma which sets them off.

[redshark1]

I like these golden sucking loaches to look at, but haven't kept them.

If you read up on them like I have you may conclude that they are not recommended to be kept with goldfish (and are scarcely compatible with anything apparently).

[ClownLoachSharky]

Are they even cold water? I always believed they were from the tropics similar to yoyos. I have heard they get aggressive when they are older and may suck beneficial mucus off they goldfish. He would have to be moved or replaced when that happens.