Best Loaches to keep with Aggressive American Cichlids

[dbcb314]

I can't really comment without knowing what exactly is going in. If you have 2 of either of those cichlids you are pushing being fully stocked without the loaches.

It will be 2-4 depending on the stock...

4 would only be if I went with 4 smaller ones (Firemouths, Cons... 6 inchers basically)

2 would only be if I went with 2 of the bigger ones (pikes that get a foot and say a mayan or something).

Mostly likely it will be 3 of them... depends on what kind of mood I am in at the time..

 

[severum mama]

My cichlids are aggressive enough so that they have killed a pleco and every dither I've ever put in there... but they don't pay any attention at all to my botia modesta. These guys IME are NOT community fish like yo yo's or clown loaches, or whatever. I think it will be fine unless you're planning on keeping something insane in there.

 

[mostlycichlids]

It will be 2-4 depending on the stock...

4 would only be if I went with 4 smaller ones (Firemouths, Cons... 6 inchers basically)

2 would only be if I went with 2 of the bigger ones (pikes that get a foot and say a mayan or something).

Mostly likely it will be 3 of them... depends on what kind of mood I am in at the time..

Personally I would skip the loaches. Many times they will be out competed for food by the cichlids. Plus if you plan to keep 2 of the bigger cichlids you will be pretty stocked, especially sense the loaches should be kept in groups. The modesta is probabally not a good choice in that size tank at all along with the cichlids as they get 8-10 inches or more. I basically have to push my cichlids away to get food to my raphael catfish. I would hate to see one of those guys trying to get food and one of your cichlids get mad and attack the loach. I have seen it happen too many times. Thats my 2 cents!

 

[H3D]

why?

Because to do such and have it be successful would require a MUCH larger tank than the op has.

 

[Nolapete]

3 or 5 is a much better grouping than 2 or 4. They are very gregarious by nature, so just 2 isn't a happy situation for them.

 

[mostlycichlids]

I think everyone is forgetting he is wanting fish for his 75g. 6-8 modesta loaches would be fully stocked,pushing overstocked upon adulthood without the cichlids. They are best in groups of 6 or more. Nolapete is correct 2-3 or even 3-4 probabally wont be happy, especially 2. 3-5 would be ok but I still think a group of 6 is best. Either way the 75g would be too small with the cichlids and the loaches.

 

[dbcb314]

3 or 5 is a much better grouping than 2 or 4. They are very gregarious by nature, so just 2 isn't a happy situation for them.

oh I was talking about the number of cichlids I would get... not loaches.

If I got modestas I would get probably 3...

 

[dbcb314]

Personally I would skip the loaches. Many times they will be out competed for food by the cichlids. Plus if you plan to keep 2 of the bigger cichlids you will be pretty stocked, especially sense the loaches should be kept in groups. The modesta is probabally not a good choice in that size tank at all along with the cichlids as they get 8-10 inches or more. I basically have to push my cichlids away to get food to my raphael catfish. I would hate to see one of those guys trying to get food and one of your cichlids get mad and attack the loach. I have seen it happen too many times. Thats my 2 cents!

Have you ever seen a 10 inch or more modesta in an aquarium? Honestly?

 

[mostlycichlids]

Have you ever seen a 10 inch or more modesta in an aquarium? Honestly?

I have seen a couple pushing a foot but generally the get 8 inches or so.

 

[Nolapete]

I've never seen them over six inches in the aquarium and those were in a large tank all to themselves and several years old.