Which loach for my tank?

euglossa

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Nov 9, 2006
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I am currently cycling a 75 gal tank.

I want to have pearl gouramis, a large school of congo tetras, and a nice bunch of loaches, at least 8.

I'm more interested in the 'fish' type loaches than the 'worm' type, like kuhlis or dojos.

I have sort of settled on Yo-yos, mostly based on descriptions of their behavior, and the fact they are lower in price than some of the others, but they aren't that much lower and I don't want price to be the deciding factor.

I want a smaller loach with interesting daytime behavior.
Clowns get too large. I've been reading up on yo-yos and they sound delightful. Angelicus are beautiful, are they as playful as yo-yos are said to be? I've also seen something the fish store called a Golden Loach, from pictures I've seen since I think they might have been sidthimunkies.

I don't have a ugf. I have a biowheel HOB filter at one end of the tank and thought I would add a powerhead near the bottom to provide current. If I do that, what strength and direction would be best (eg, toward or away from the HOB filter return)

The bottom of the tank is paved with porceline tiles, with drifts of gravel and some bare spots. I have lots of fake plants, some chunky rocks, a center piece made up of three chunks of malaysian driftwood and a little stone 'cottage' built up of rocks with many holes in the walls and ceiling for the loaches to occupy and dart in and out of.

So what are your opinions? Which would you all favor: yo-yo, angelicus or sidthimunkies, or something else I haven't seen or considered yet?

thanks,
Ellen
 
I have had yoyo's and they are a hoot, but I must confess that I prefer my zebra loaches. They dont get quite as large as yoyo's but I just like them better. Here is a pic...

zebraloach.jpg
 
Cory Lover said:
Hi,

Dwarf Loaches are quite nice. They are peaceful and only grow to about two inches.

Cory Lover

Dwarf Loach = sidthimunki
 
I have a seargent major loach...and I love him to pieces. He is fairly fiesty as he chases my danios over the tank. He hides a lot, but when he does make an appearance he does really cute things. I want another one.
 
I have 6 striatas & 10 sidthimunkis in my 75g., they are very frisky & day active. The zebras are still small but may be my favorites, they are also not expensive & will mix with other fish more easily. Whatever kind get a group of at least 5 so you get to see the joy of loaches together, I'm a big fan.
Nancy
 
with the tank size u have u could get 37 kuhliloaches if u have enough hiding spaces! :dive:
 
37 kuhlis! I can't imagine. But I don't think so with the other bio-load.

I'm stocking a bit at a time, I'm up to 13 congo tetras and the original 8 danios now. Next will be 4 pearl gouramis-if I can find any. Someone here suggested the loaches should go in last. I'm leaning toward 9 or 10 dwarf loaches. Probably sometime in late January or february.

Ellen
 
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