New loach owner!!

Hello everyone, I am now a new loach owner

currently, i have 2 loaches that were sold to me as "Angelicus Botia" from PetSmart.

I will be buying at least 3 more but with their $10 price tag, I can only buy a few at a time.

They are nice and healthy.. very big in size, and were actively scavenging for food at the tank in the petsmart store.

I used the drip method to acclimate them.. a total of 25ish minutes.

Once i released them into the tank, they swam around for about a minute, then quickly took shelter under my rock caves.

Theyv been in there for a while now, a few hours.

Is this behavior normal? what does it mean? Im assuming their a little skittish since its a new environment.

Tank specs: 55g, moderately planted w/ anarchis, java ferns, amazon swords, and moneywort.


thanks everyone

^^ thanks

i figured they would be a bit nervous now that they are in a new environment and everything.

They are beautiful and hope i get to see them a bit more. They poke out from under the rocks every now and then but i can tell they are still a bit nervous.

Lupin said:

Congrats!:thumbsup: I can understand your financial troubles and don't blame you for that. They will be happier I am sure once you complete the group number.

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Thanks for understanding lupin

I didnt just want to buy one, so i opted to by 2 so that they AT LEAST had each other for company.

I will buy they other 3 in about a week when payday rolls around.

I did my research and found that even though the clown loaches were cool, a school of 5 would not last in my 55g in the long run.

So these angelicus botia will have to do, besides ,they are awesome fish themselves

So as of now, here is my stock listing:

9 tiger barbs
5 black skirt tetras
4 black kuhli loaches (about 2.5 inches each, still kinda small)
and 2 angelicus botia loaches

How far am I percentage wise in being stocked? like 60%? 80%? or am i completely stocked?

Tank specs: 55g moderately planted.

Lupin said:

The only issue with your mix is the kuhlis certainly will not like the company of the kubs. Kubs are far too feisty and kuhlis don't like anyone harassing them around constantly. They need to be separated. You could add 3 more black skirt tetras if you like. For surface, swordtails work just fine.

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Yeah i kinda noticed that..

when i first released the kubs, they swam to the left side of the tank and kicked out the kuhlis from the rock caves... now the kuhlis are in the rock pile on the right side of the tank..

does that sound that normal behavior?


anyway, i may put the kuhlis in my brothers 29g.