What type of loaches can I keep in here?

[Munkee]

I want to turn my old tank into a species only tank, after fishless cycling it. It's demensions are : 36Lx20Hx12W.

I was thinking about Zebra loaches, but was not sure if they would work? Also if they would work for me, how many would be best?

I have a larger tank that is a 60G with 1 common spotted weather loach and one golden, I had hillstreams that I kept for a few months, but after an algae bloom (green water) they died overnight when I installed a UV sterilizer, due to a drop in oxygen once the algae died.

Oh and Hello everyone, nice to meet you.

[Edit]

Here are some photos of my current loaches, incase you are interested.

[shari2]

Hi Munkee! That's a nice weather loach and nice pics, too. Welcome to LOL.

Zebra loaches? Botia Striata?
That's a 30g tank? I don't know how many to recommend, but I'd say it sounds like you could keep a few in there...

[Munkee]

Hi Munkee! That's a nice weather loach and nice pics, too. Welcome to LOL.

Zebra loaches? Botia Striata?
That's a 30g tank? I don't know how many to recommend, but I'd say it sounds like you could keep a few in there...

Yes, Botia Striata is the loach I mean. It's a 30G tank, I have lots of caves and places for them to hide. I was not sure if I could manage to do this since 30G is really not that much and I know they like to be in groups of 5 or more. The tank would be strictly for them with no other inhabitants.

I was also looking at this species Botia kubotai, I find them very appealing, and if I cannot find the Zebra Loach, I would like to keep these if at all possible.

Ever since I got my weather loach, I have become addicted to these creatures. They have such personality!

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

[Rubix]

Hi Munkee! That's a nice weather loach and nice pics, too. Welcome to LOL.

Zebra loaches? Botia Striata?
That's a 30g tank? I don't know how many to recommend, but I'd say it sounds like you could keep a few in there...

Yes, Botia Striata is the loach I mean. It's a 30G tank, I have lots of caves and places for them to hide. I was not sure if I could manage to do this since 30G is really not that much and I know they like to be in groups of 5 or more. The tank would be strictly for them with no other inhabitants.

I was also looking at this species Botia kubotai, I find them very appealing, and if I cannot find the Zebra Loach, I would like to keep these if at all possible.

Ever since I got my weather loach, I have become addicted to these creatures. They have such personality!

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

kubotai would work fine... i keep three in a 30 gallon (36 inch long, same dimensions as yours), with plans to add two more in july when i move and put the kubotai in a 38 gallon (same dimensions, but taller). i absolutely love them. i would put more in my 30, but i already have 5 small catfish in there with the 3 kubs (plus im waiting til i move).
i also really want to keep striata, as i never have before. im probably going to wait a year or two til i acquire a larger tank and a more -established- place to live (i seem to move every year! )

[Munkee]

I think I will go with the kubotai, then. I will get five to start with, then if I upgrade to a larger tank, think about adding more.

I thank you for your input.

[Emma Turner]

Hi Munkee and welcome to Loaches Online.

Personally I think that your tank is a little on the small side for Botia kubotai. Whilst the length of the tank is not bad, the actual width (12") is not particularly good. I think I'd want to recommend 15-18" for active species such as B. kubotai so that the tank was of a bigger 'footprint'. Have you thought about Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki, a.k.a. the Dwarf Chain Loach? http://www.loaches.com/species-index/ya ... idthimunki

Emma

[Munkee]

Hi Munkee and welcome to Loaches Online.

Personally I think that your tank is a little on the small side for Botia kubotai. Whilst the length of the tank is not bad, the actual width (12") is not particularly good. I think I'd want to recommend 15-18" for active species such as B. kubotai so that the tank was of a bigger 'footprint'. Have you thought about Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki, a.k.a. the Dwarf Chain Loach? http://www.loaches.com/species-index/ya ... idthimunki

Emma

Hi Emma,

Thanks for the advice. I did think that the tank was a bit small, which is why I decided to ask first. I was considering Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki for a long time, researching them, only to find that nobody sells them near me.

I'll have to ask around the stores, and maybe they know where I can get some. They seem to be a highly "sesonal" fish from what I have heard. They only arrive in stores for a short time each year?

Again I appreciate the advice!

- Heather

[Emma Turner]

Hi Heather,

All Y. sidthimunki are captive-bred these days, so a decent store should be able to source them for you most months of the year.

Good luck,

Emma

[mikev]

I'll have to ask around the stores, and maybe they know where I can get some.

Frank does and if Long Island stands for Long Island NY, he is should be reasonably close to you. Has them in stock right now, see
http://www.franksaquarium.com/brookstreamloaches.htm

hth.

PS. Zippers is another choice....very entertaining.

[Munkee]

I'll have to ask around the stores, and maybe they know where I can get some.

Frank does and if Long Island stands for Long Island NY, he is should be reasonably close to you. Has them in stock right now, see
http://www.franksaquarium.com/brookstreamloaches.htm

hth.

PS. Zippers is another choice....very entertaining.

Thanks for the link! Much apprecited, and yes, Long Island means Long Island New York. (AKA that giant sand bar people seem to flock to, all summer long. )

[shari2]

There's a couple of sand bars people flock to all summer around here too.

Too much flocking going on all around the metropolitan area.