Loaches need to be in Groups?

bradlgt21

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May 9, 2009
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Chicagoland, Illinois
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Brad
My mom just asked me to restock my dads 30 gallon tank. He doesn't maintain it, everytime I visit it's down like 3 gallons of water and the HOB filter is like a water fall. So it was her idea for me to maintain it when I visit. I love the fact that I was volunteered to do there dirty work. Anyway back to the tank, it has 1 yoyo loach and 1 BN pleco already. I believe there is also a danio or two and a single tetra left alive thing has to be like 5 years old if not older.

When planning my stock aqadvisor said I should have at least 3 yoyo loaches per group? Is this true are they really schoolers? I always thought the larger loaches like yoyo's and clowns just kind of stayed to themselves. If it's a big deal I guess I can get a couple more loaches but that will take up like 60% of the tanks stock.

My father in law had 3 clown loaches before and they never really hung out together they each just hid in there own areas when people came by, funny seeing a clown loach try to hide though, usually 90% of them are sticking out of a cave or behind driftwood.
 
A 30g is too small for a group of adult yoyos. Can you trade him in & get a group of sidthimunkis? Or maybe some more neglect tolerant fish like danios & platys?
 
All loaches need to be kept in groups, preferably groups of 5 or more. Yes, a single species can survive alone in any of the loaches but they feel more secure and happier in groups.

Perhaps trade in your single yo-yo so that so much of your stocking isn't taken up with a group of them. Then you can add some more active fish to the tank for the visual of them. A nice group of cory cats would be good for your 30. Active and always out and busy. Then you can stock more into the center of the tank too.
 
When planning my stock aqadvisor said I should have at least 3 yoyo loaches per group? Is this true are they really schoolers? I always thought the larger loaches like yoyo's and clowns just kind of stayed to themselves. If it's a big deal I guess I can get a couple more loaches but that will take up like 60% of the tanks stock.
its a lose guide at best by no means the end all to stocking.
 
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