Would No loaches/corys be better for a planted tank?

beviking

beviking

Senior Member, Sophomoric Attitude
Feb 16, 2002
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Syracuse, NY
Re-thinking my plan for my tank and wanted opinions (I don't mean to sound demanding!) on a snail/shrimp/ottos/SAE clean up crew w/o any loaches/cories.
Reason being I'll have a bit of glosso and from the little experience I have with it, it does get pulled up (only a little) by the botias rummaging. I've read cories do it too. I also have a sneeking suspicion that my clown loaches have nibbled my A.nana (newer growth) and Sunset Hygro (newer growth).
Not to mention the kids would think it's cool having shrimp in there.
Thoughts. Pros/Cons?
 
For me, loaches are not a problem until they get larger, but do note that I do not grow glosso or even much in the way of stems which have frequent replanting. Overall, I prefer my snails and shrimp to loaches, as I absolutely do require their cleaning services, so loaches live only with large, rooted rosette type plants. Also note that at the moment, I have no loaches in stock, and lots of snails and shrimps.
 
My cories never seem to uproot and of my stems plants. But I have now decided to get rid of the stems as they are a lot more work than my ferns and swords.
 
RTR said:
... Also note that at the moment, I have no loaches in stock, and lots of snails and shrimps.
Click to expand...

...so many shrimp that you're looking to sell some?
 
In your dreams - I still don't have enough. Shrimp are like money, there is never "enough".

Snails on the other hand obviously do fall under the same generalization, but they are such good puffer food...
 
Ohh I have a suggestion, in addition to shrimp and snails ottos and SAE's get some pygmy cories, they are sooooo tiny and cute!!! and even if they wanted to they couldnt disturb plants.
 
Actually, the Amanos can and do uproot tiny cuttings/divisions for me with some regularity. Trying several different cutting sizes of Anubias petite nana, the shrimp cleaned out the patch of the smallest cuttings. I found some on the filter intakes, some in the Val, but the majority went AWOL.
 
Also, pgymy cories fare much better when in tanks that are scaled to their small stature. They seem to get quite a bit crazy when in large, deep tanks. Not sure how large this tank is, but if there's talk of loaches and SAE's, it's probably too big.

Shrimp should be okay. They may do a little, but nothing large scale. Esp. if you get something like ghost shrimp.

My cories in the 55g (there are 7) don't mess with anything. Granted, I don't have glosso in that tank (will be planting marsilea soon though)...but I do have many, many stems of bouyant wisteria in the Profile and they have yet to disturb them.

In a planted tank, I'd say cories are apt to do far less damage than loaches.
 
RTR said:
In your dreams - I still don't have enough. Shrimp are like money, there is never "enough".

Snails on the other hand obviously do fall under the same generalization, but they are such good puffer food...
Click to expand...

:laugh: Hey, might as well include it with my dreams of having a tank worthy of a contest!!! Just talked to my lfs guy and he says he can get several sp. of algae eating shrimp and sell them for ~$3/ea.! Not bad considering most online are $2.29 or so plus s/h. Snails I have plenty of too!

90gal Leopardess. Prob too big. Hope you're feeling better!:)
 
Thank you! I am, actually:D

Cool about the shrimp...seems ghosties are as good as it gets around here...and they charge a few dollars a PIECE in some places here! (Though, I paid for 24 once and came home with 66 of them in the bag:D)
 
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