What are
loach fish good
for?
Loaches are a fun addition to any tropical freshwater aquarium. Generally, they are peaceful scavengers that spend their time rooting about for tidbits of food on the bottom Many loach species actually prefer to be kept in schools, and some species will literally pine away with loneliness if kept alone.
How big does a loach fish get?
Most of the loaches are not very large, being only a few inches , but there are exceptions with a few of the Botia reaching over 12″ (30 cm) and the exceptionally
large royal clown loach
which can reach up to 20″ (50 cm).
Where do loach fish come from?
Loaches are fish of the superfamily Cobitoidea. They are freshwater, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish found in rivers and creeks throughout Eurasia and northern Africa.
Are loaches aggressive?
Loaches are semi-aggressive fish when housed in the aquarium individually , so it is important to maintain each species in groups of six or more to minimize aggression. Loaches are active bottom dwelling scavengers ideally suited for the community aquarium.
What do loach fish eat?
They prefer sinking foods such as community pellets, Repashy gel food, frozen bloodworms, and live blackworms If the other fish in your aquarium are eating all the food before the
kuhli loaches
get to them, try feeding them at night when the lights are out, and they’re sure to get nice and plump.
Can loaches live with Plecos?
Most plecos make
great tank mates
for clown loaches Plecos and loaches just ignore each other in general, as if they can’t be bothered to acknowledge the other’s presence. A lot of plecos are algae eaters that can really help the tank look nice.
Do loaches clean tanks?
Clown Loaches will be everywhere in your tank scavenging for food They’ll sift the substrate, sneak behind little decorations, and generally do a great job picking up the messes. These are not very easy to keep and the biggest fish on the list.
Are loaches easy to keep?
Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) This zebra-striped oddball fish isn’t for everyone since they can look like a squiggly mass of worms, but they are quite enjoyable and easy to care for.
Are loaches good community fish?
Most loaches are quite peaceful and do well in community tanks However, some members of the family Botiidae can become boisterous and may go after smaller or slower moving fish. These species are best kept with larger, more active fish.
What fish go well with
cory catfish
?
Cory Catfish tank mates include most community tank fish as long as they are non-aggressive and friendly in nature. Otocinclus Catfish, Tetras, Swordtails and of course other Corys can be a good fit.
Do all cory catfish get along?
Good Tank Mates The ideal Cory catfish tank mates are other Corys, even those of other species , as they’ll gladly school in groups of five or six. They’ve even been known to school with other shy fish of similar colors, such as tetras, a practice that’s common in the wild.
How many cory catfish in a 10 gallon tank?
You can put between two and four cory catfish in a 10-gallon tank. A one-inch cory catfish generally requires at least one gallon of water to live comfortably. Depending on the species, cory catfish can grow to be 2–4 inches long. Keep that in mind when considering your tank size and how many corys to bring home.
What size tank do loaches need?
Aquarium Conditions First of all, you will need to keep Kuhli Loaches in at least a 30 gallon aquarium Some aquarists will say that this fish can handle a tank size as small as 20 gallons. However, since they prefer to live in groups of up to 5, it is better to size up to at least 30 gallons.
Can betta live with loaches?
Best Loaches For Your Betta Like Dwarf loaches and the rare Panda loach. However, there is one clear loach winner: Kuhli loaches. They make an excellent match because they spend a lot of their time hiding and looking for food in your tank’s substrate. With no long fins, your Betta will have nothing to nip at.
Are Kuhli loaches aggressive?
As we mentioned earlier, Kuhli Loaches are pretty peaceful So, they’ll do just fine with other non-aggressive fish. If you want to have a multi-species tank, you can go with fish that occupy other areas of the environment.
Do loaches eat snails?
Clown Loach The Clown Loach has quite the reputation as a snail-eating fish (and for good reason). You might see them patrolling the waters before quickly digging under the substrate. This makes them highly efficient at getting rid of snails that like to burrow and hide.
Are loaches freshwater?
Loaches (superfamily Cobitoidea) are a group of predominantly small freshwater fishes At present 1043 species are known in 111 genera split between 10 families. Around 50 species are important as aquarium fishes, but essentially all species can be maintained in the aquarium.
What does loach stand for?
The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (nicknamed “Loach”, after the requirement acronym LOH— Light Observation Helicopter ) is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation.
Can you eat loaches?
The soup can be enjoyed with either whole or pureed loaches As some could be uncomfortable with soup filled with loaches in their entirety, the loaches are usually grinded in a blender before being boiled. However, some prefer the pleasure of thoroughly chewing the tiny fish.
Are loach good eating?
The pond loach is a common culinary fish in East Asia , raised on a large scale in fish farming.
What fish go well with loaches?
- Bristlenose Pleco.
- Kuhli Loach.
- Neon Tetra.
- Cherry Barb.
- Tiger Barb.
- Bolivian Ram.
- Angelfish.
- Black Skirt Tetra.
Why does my loach swim in circles?
Loaches are sensitive species and may swim in circles when the water quality is poor The ammonia levels, for example, can be a cause for stress and swimming around in circles as a response. Additionally, other toxins or contaminants can also cause circling behavior from fish.
What do black loaches eat?
They will eat flake food, sinking pellets and live foods such as bloodworms and tubifex worms As with most aquarium fish, they’ll stay in the best condition if you provide a varied diet of prepared and live foods in proper moderation. Remove remaining food as soon as the fish stop feeding so it doesn’t foul the water.
Can loaches get ich?
Clown loaches have one problem: They are susceptible to ich and can be difficult to treat once they have it. Because they are scaleless fish, they don’t do well with the typical ich medications containing formalin and malachite green, or medications based on copper.
What does loach taste like?
It feels like a cross between white fish and anago eel, and has a slightly bitter flavor When combined with a sweet and spicy sauce or flavoring, loach is most definitely a mature flavor.
Do loaches eat fish?
Usually, Clown Loaches will not eat their smaller tank mates as they are very peaceful fish, but they will eat small fish fry (babies) given the opportunity and small shrimps.
What temperature do loaches like?
In the aquarium they should be kept at a steady sub-tropical temperature within 15-25°C/59-77°F They have been known to tolerate lower and higher extremes, but are most comfortable within this range.
What is the largest loach?
Leptobotia elongata , the imperial flower loach, elongate loach or royal clown loach, is a species of botiid fish found in flowing water in the upper and middle Yangtze basin in China. It is the largest species in the family, reaching up to 50 cm (1.6 ft) in length and 3 kg (6.6 lb) in weight.
Are loaches bottom feeders?
Botia loaches are a bottom feeder fish I have seriously considered dedicating an entire tank to. I’ve always found their coloration and behavior really interesting. Be sure to research the species as some of these guys can get VERY large, especially clown loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus).
Are all loaches nocturnal?
Loaches are hardy, usually nocturnal fishes that inhabit both still and flowing waters. They use their barbels to comb the bottom for worms, insect larvae, and other food.
Do loaches eat snail eggs?
They are not really hunters but scavengers – they search for food and scraps instead of attacking. However, as we already mentioned, they might eat small snails, eggs , or perhaps really tiny, sick fish. They enjoy frozen, dry, or live food, and they might not be fussy, but they do prefer a meat-based diet.
Do loaches need a heater?
Yes, kuhli loaches need a heater Kuhli loaches are tropical fish that originate from freshwater streams in Southeast Asia. They need warm temperatures of around 73–86°F (22.7°–30°C) to thrive.
Do plecos and catfish get along?
Plecostomus are omnivorous bottom-feeders and can be safely housed with fish much smaller than themselves. Plecos generally pair well with cichlids, angelfish, barbs, bettas, other catfish species, gouramis, guppies, hatchets, loaches, mollies and platies.
Can you put 2 plecos in the same tank?
“No” to Multiple Plecos Together They often do wonderfully alongside other types of community freshwater fish. When plecos reach maturity, they simply cannot get along with fellow plecos. They can be highly territorial around each other. Therefore, it can be extremely dangerous ever to house them together.
What fish go well with Bristlenose catfish?
Any peaceful fish are fine tank mates for Bristlenose Plecos. They are great for community tanks with species like Neon Tetras, Platy fish, Guppies, and more. Some aquarists even pair them with known aggressors, such as bettas or African cichlids.
What fish eats poop in aquarium?
There is no fish that will eat poop in an aquarium Occasionally fish are seen chewing on fish poop, but that is because they mistake it for food. Even catfish, plecos, or shrimp do not eat fish poop. The only way to remove fish poop is to use a gravel vacuum and remove it manually.
Do loaches sleep?
Playing Dead Another behavior that clown loaches engage in, which has often scared clown loach keepers, is how they “play dead.” This is simply the way that clown loaches sleep or rest, on their side, remaining pretty much motionless.
What is the best fish to keep tank clean?
- Bristlenose Plecostomus (Bristlenose plecos) Bristlenose plecos are a great addition to most aquariums
- Siamese Algae Eater
- Chinese Algae Eater
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Twig Catfish
- Nerite Snail
- Cherry Shrimp
- Amano Shrimp.
Citations
https://www.fishforums.net/threads/loaches-and-catfish.14475/
https://www.britannica.com/animal/loach-catfish
https://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/loaches/Loach.htm