horse faced loach question

[mousey]

Had a bad outbreak of ick. My Bn catfish died. The laoch is much more active now as they used to have skirmishes all the time. he swims all around the tank and seems resentfull of the platies in with him.
he no longer hides in the gravel.
Is this normal for horse faced loaches?
I am used to not seeing him and now he is very active.
Thanks

[mickthefish]

ive only got a youngster but it's out all the time searching for some grub.
i think that the BN could have made them find hiding places as they are territorial buggers at the best of times.

mick

[starsplitter7]

Had a bad outbreak of ick. My Bn catfish died. The laoch is much more active now as they used to have skirmishes all the time. he swims all around the tank and seems resentfull of the platies in with him.
he no longer hides in the gravel.
Is this normal for horse faced loaches?
I am used to not seeing him and now he is very active.
Thanks

Hi,

I am relatively new, but I have a couple questions for you that may help us figure out if your HFL is acting normally or if there is a problem. I have about 8 Horsefaced Loaches (HFL). My small ones are generally out and about, and my big ones stay under the sand, except at night.

1.) How big is your tank?

2.) What other fish live in the tank besides the Horsefaced Loach and the Platies?

3.) How many HFL do you have?

4.) How long have you had this tank up and running?

5.) What are your Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia readings?

6.) What is the substrate? Just gravel?

7.) What is your cleaning routine?

8.) What decorations do you have?

9.) What do you feed the HFL?

I am sure the HFL is just fine. But let us know the answers. Thanks, Tanja.

[mousey]

10 gallon tank- it's too small for him I know but he is a rescue and I have no other place to put it.
he would fight with my N Corica in the 20 gallon, plus I can't catch the bum.
1 female betta lives in there. hopefully maybe another couple of glo light tetras to replace the 2 that died.
There is just one loach in the tank and the tank has been set up for a couple of years. It is planted-- at least it was until the loach decided to rearrange the vals.
Ammonia, nitrites are 0. nitrates run 20 - 40 depending on the plant levels. 25 % water change every 2 weeks but lately since outbreak it has been every couple of days.-- I'm paranoid!
substrate is all small gravel
decorations are one upright piece of mopani wood containing a java fern.
The loach gets a shrimp pellet every morning and there are snails in the tank for him. I have seen him jump on them and there are more empty shells than live snails now.
I really think he hid because of the BN pleco. He has been quiet most of the day just sitting on the gravel, but now it is twilight he is swimming up and down with the occasional burst to the top. At times it looks like he is chasing the betta and she is flaring at the blue pimafix bottle in front of the tank.

[starsplitter7]

I agree with Mick that the BN may have been territorial, and that caused the HFL to hide. Now with the BN gone, the HFL feels more comfortable.

Mick also said his young one is out all the time looking for food, and mine are the same. My older ones are hidden and skittish and my young ones are much braver. I would vary the HFL diet a bit. Mine really like quality flake (I like Omega 1), shrimp pellets, blood worms, . . . since my tank is mixed I feed a variety of foods for the different fish, and the HFL eat a bit of all of it. Mine don't eat snails, but they have so many other foods to chose from. Mine like to filter feed and I see stuff filtered out of their gills while they eat.

When you have a chance I would get a couple more HFL because they do like company. Mine lay all over each other.

The HFL wouldn't fight with the Corica, but I bet the Corica might give him a hard time. I had 4, and they were fine for about a year, and then they disappeared one by one. Other people have never had a problem with them. My HFL are very gentle living with the smallest fry and shrimplets without predation.

I think that's really funny about the Betta flaring at the Pimafix bottle. I can see it.

I know more people than me and Mick have HFL on this forum, so I am sure they will chime in. Sounds like your HFL is just fine. Do you have pictures? Everyone likes pictures.

I have six BN, and I love them. They are not overly aggressive, but I believe I am a little overstocked, and I think any aggression is spread out, and my tank is much bigger.

[mousey]

the first time I saw him filter feed I was surprised to say the least.
I have never seen any other HF in the fish store-- he was just Dying in the BOO BOO tank And I asked what he was. They said he was almost dead and did I want to try to revive him.
If I see another I will get one for sure.
I had the same experience with the coricas. They did fine for about a year then they mysteriously died off til I only had one.
He is a bit shy- hides under a leaf, but will get into it occassionally with the SAE who is a whopping great girl with a massive appetite.
Thanksa everyone for your comments.