Did my loach kill the other loaches?

[fishorama]

Loaches are good hiders & good jumpers, keep looking.

Loaches are social as individual species. It's not necessarily that the 2 different kinds might fight, it's that there are only 2 of each. 5 or 6 OF EACH SPECIES is considered a minimum. Unless your tank is very large, 6 ft or so, you won't have room for clowns long term. If your tank is say, a 55g or so, you could squeeze in 5 yoyos at most, they should grow to 4 inches quite fast then slower to 6 in.

I'd strongly suggest taking back the clowns & getting 2 or 3 more yoyos even if you have to wait a while to get them.

Dead fish don't typically float in my tanks, they stay on the bottom.

Edit: I see you've got a 33g. The 3 angels together will also outgrow the tank eventually especially if there is a pair. Start saving for a bigger tank or maybe rethink your stocking, you've got some time.

 

[plaalye]

Look in the filter.

 

[ktkt22]

Yes I know the tank will be too small for the angels eventually - I have stuggles with that for a while (I initially had just one but a friend bought me the other pair as a birthday present so I didnt want to give them away - instead I returned two gold gouramis ) I honestly fear that one of my angelfish has already outgorwn the tank, I just love him so much I dont want to get rid of him!! He is very tall now with his fancy fins!!

Back to the loaches.... I'm 99% sure they are not in the tank and 100% sure they are not outside of the tank. Unless they are buried under the sand and never come out I would have seen them.

 

[ktkt22]

Cleaned out the filter yesterday - no signs of fish.

 

[jpappy789]

I would strongly suggest testing your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate asap with a good liquid test kit and post exact number here.

 

[ktkt22]

How would those levels explain why my loaches are gone? Would my other fish be able to eat up the bodies of the loches in a matter of hours? Because otherwise wouldn't I have seen the bodies?

 

[jpappy789]

Loaches are pretty sensitive fish. IMO they would be one of the first to die at the first signs of bad water quality. Also as a precaution. If the bodies were left decaying unbeknownst to you you might have a small spike in the params. Fish will eat dead fish so you probably wont find bodies, at least full ones.

 

[ktkt22]

I have noticed a spike in the nitrates recently, but doubt if I could have missed the dead fish. I'll check later. Thanks!

 

[jpappy789]

When was the last time you tested?

 

[Lupin]

it could even be buried under the subterate but probably it's inside of an ornament. i don't think it would have been killed by another loach. they usually enjoy each others company

Correct. I keep yoyos and clowns together and have not lost a single one.

Loaches are pretty sensitive fish. IMO they would be one of the first to die at the first signs of bad water quality. Also as a precaution. If the bodies were left decaying unbeknownst to you you might have a small spike in the params. Fish will eat dead fish so you probably wont find bodies, at least full ones.

It's ironic when yoyos are really something recommended for beginners considering they are very easy to keep and are not at the very least fussy with water conditions.

I'd search everything thoroughly for signs of life. Another ironic thing is yoyos really are not nocturnal fish. Even when kept singly, they have the tendency to show up quite often compared to other species.