seargent major loach

[thekrib]

i got about a 1.5 inch one of these from the LFS, its a really cool fish, always out and about, but it seems alittle anxious and unhappy, it is healthy though.

water parameters are fine, nitrite and ammonia 0, nitrates .25-.35

does he need a couple friends?

how well will these loaches fair in a rift lake tank with moderately mellow species?

[ziskus]

Can you give us a scientific name? Or at least describe the fish?Never heard of this common name before.

[valerie]

I believe seargent mahor loaches are Botia rostrata. Nice little peaceful loach and will do better in groups of 3+. They will not do well in a rift lake tank even if your africans are "mellow", they can be shy and will easily be picked on.Plus the water parameters are different.

congrats on your new loach.I have wanted to get some but decided on botia striata(zebra loaches) instead. I would get him 2 more friends.

[loachaholic]

Right on the money, Valerie. Botia rostrata, a peaceful but lively loach that NEEDS company. Please consider adding at least two more - a total of four would be even better.

And while they do prefer soft water, but will survive in something a little harder. They will not, however, be happy in the conditions needed to make rift lake cichlids happy, particularly the salts.

Most loaches need just a few things to thrive: Clean and appropriate water, places to hide (caves, wood, etc) and the company of their own kind. Given those things, along with varied food, your new loach with it's friends will give you many years of pleasure.

[thekrib]

rift lake tanks dont at all require salt. but i have decided to put just the zebra red tailed loach in the cichlid tank, he is pretty territorial for a loach. so i think he will do fine.

how will the sergeant majors do with barbs, im thinking of turning my 20 into an assorted barb tank, and i think 4 major loaches would be good for the bottom. along with the 2 khulis.

any thoughts?

[valerie]

I think they should be fine with the barbs but make sure they have enough hiding spots incase you get a "crazy" barb that decieds it wants to pick on them.

[dizzykylie]

I have a seargent major loach. At first he was really shy, rarely coming out from my plants. Now he is swimming and terrorizing my zebra danios. He is really cute. I am starting to enjoy him.