Dwarf loach dilema

[eraagne]

I bought some dwarf loaches today for my betta tank. It's a 10 gallon. Would this be okay? Or should I try to get a 15 and two more loaches. Or should I return the loaches. They seem to be doing well together after the explotary nip from one of the loaches on the betta.

Thoughts?

[jpappy789]

Y. sidthimunki?

They really should be in a group of 5-6 at the very least. IMO a 10 gallon is really pushing it...they are VERY active when younger. I found my 15g to be barely enough last year and right now they're loving the extra space in the 20L.

[eraagne]

I'll get a 20 reg from petco sometime this week. And see if the fish store has a few more loaches still. I'll leave the three for a bit just to get the filter adjusted to the bioload. Would 20 reg be good. I have zero room for a 20 long.

Could I stock anything else in a 20 reg with them and the betta? Or should I remove the betta. I have a free 5 g.

[jpappy789]

Technically a 20H is just a taller 15g so it could work, but not ideal.

And definitely get more as soon as possible.

[eraagne]

Technically a 20H is just a taller 15g so it could work, but not ideal.

And definitely get more as soon as possible.


Hmm. I'll think some more on it. Yeah I know the 20 is just a tall 15 but it'll help in other regards. Maybe with some tall plants the betta will be able to nap away from their antics.

Edit: And in the close future I should have a 29 avaliable to play with so it will be a temp home.

[fishorama]

I have kept sids in a 20g long like jpappy. A 20H may be ok & like you said not ideal. IME less than 5 or 6 loaches is asking for either shyness or some slight aggression. Those long betta fins may prove irresistable to inquiring loaches. Awesome fish though, worth the effort to provide for their needs. Betta fins are hard to find really good tankmates for, everybody likes to taste them even neons IME.

[eraagne]

Okay so I've decided I will place them in my 29 gallon eventually. I have two goldfish but I'm sending them to MrsMoose so they can live really good lives. :) I will place the betta in the spare 5g with no other tankmates.

How long can six little loaches live in a 10g. Two weeks? A month. Or should I really run out and get a 20 reg. For a temp home?

[jpappy789]

When are the goldfish leaving? You could move the betta now and treat the 10g as a temp QT/holding tank until the 29 gallon is empty. A few weeks wouldn't hurt.

[pinkertd]

Having had a herd of over 40 of them, give them as much bottom room as possible...so a regular 20G would be better than a 20H. A 29G would be even better. Add more, they grow and mature very, very slowly. You won't see their real personality and interactions with only a few. More than likely they are just babies so they will be fine for several weeks in a 10G. Don't slack on your water changes.