what loaches go together well?

[MTS]

I’ve been reading this forum for a while but sometimes get a bit confused on combining loaches. As far as combining them in an aquarium, I’ve noticed 3 categories:
1) Those that like warmer water
2) Those that like cooler water
3) Those don’t get along with others.

Are there other tank categories and to make things simple for me, could someone name loaches for these categories? I don’t see too many loaches around here but if I do, I’d like to be able to buy them up quickly if they would be ok in one of my tanks. I recently saw some zebra loaches and Petsmart sometimes sells angel loaches. I’m specifically wondering what loaches would be ok to put in with my 6 clowns, 2 yo-yos and angel fish. I am yearning for more loaches!

[newshound]

I am not sure that most loaches are a good fit for angel fish...
I am not sure of your tank size too...
get a few more yoyos (they can get large)
zebras and angel loaches (kubotia?) are also a great fit...groups of 5...up your yoyos...hey I like that...up your yoyo...

[MTS]

Yes, I am on the lookout for more yo-yos already but would like to experience some other loach types too, if possible.

The 6 clowns, 2 yo-yos and 8 angelfish are in a 100+ gal tank but I do have some other tanks that are not heavily stocked. My only cool-water tank is a 90 gal with 5 xlarge fancy goldfish but I doubt there is a loach that would go well with them.

[Blue]

Weather loaches have always been suggested by a lot of people for coldwater setups. I've had them before but they were not kept with goldfish. I am sure the weather loaches would prefer cleaner water or at least, not with messy fish.

[Diana]

Another way to divide Loaches is by their preference for water movement. Some come from shallow, fast moving streams. Maybe cooler, or maybe about average tropical temperature, but highly oxygenated water with LOTS of current. Rocks, algae growing on the rocks, but the water is moving too fast for lots of plants in the middle of the stream. Perhaps on the sides, or growing over the stream and trailing branches in the water.

Many other loaches come from rivers and streams that are not quite so fast moving, but still, highly oxygenated water is a good bet for any Loach. I would err on the side of more water movement, and provide some decor (rocks and driftwood) that can provide some quiet areas.

[Mark Janssen]

I find this a tricky topic. Since all fish are different even within the same species.

at the moment i keep 4 species of loaches in my 6foot/2meter tank. Kubotai, yoyo, morletti and modesta. and all is going well so far. maybe that could change in the future, nobody can say that it wil go wrong of good for 100%.

i keep a high current in the tank so that maybe is something that let them stay together, well i hope so.

some other things to put them by

night active
day active
low light setup
bright light setup

low/fast/medium current
planted aquarium
no plants

goes on endless i think

[mikev]

some other things to put them by

night active
day active

Hmmm...indeed.... I would be quite interesting in seeing a list of nocturnal/diurnal common species.

But it is not clear if one cannot mix them, ignoring day/night habits for the most part. Clowns (mostly nocturnal) mix fine with Kubs (strongly diurnal IME).