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loaches
Dec 9, 2008 13:38:38 GMT -5
Post by kagome on Dec 9, 2008 13:38:38 GMT -5
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loaches
Dec 9, 2008 15:53:27 GMT -5
Post by Carl on Dec 9, 2008 15:53:27 GMT -5
VERY interesting! I am not familiar with the butterfly loach, so thanks for the link. The pictures of Angelicus loach really showed how beautiful they are. After reading your link about the Butterfly loach, you might consider a power head/water pump placed near the bottom of the tank Carl
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loaches
Dec 9, 2008 16:05:41 GMT -5
Post by kagome on Dec 9, 2008 16:05:41 GMT -5
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loaches
Dec 9, 2008 17:47:18 GMT -5
Post by goldenpuon on Dec 9, 2008 17:47:18 GMT -5
Very nice! I like the butterfly loache It looks prehistoric! Unfortunately, I have not kept them.
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theoden
Full Member
"They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all."
Posts: 86
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loaches
Dec 9, 2008 19:57:42 GMT -5
Post by theoden on Dec 9, 2008 19:57:42 GMT -5
Wonderful links! I never knew there were so many loaches (the clown, kuhli, and weather loaches are my favorite kinds of fish!). I have decided that when I retire, I am going to have a tank with only [peaceful] loaches in it. I finally have a goal! ;D
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loaches
Dec 9, 2008 22:40:21 GMT -5
Post by babygeige on Dec 9, 2008 22:40:21 GMT -5
They are both very cool looking!! It's funny, because I was just reading about loaches in one of my books earlier!
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loaches
Dec 9, 2008 23:50:42 GMT -5
Post by kagome on Dec 9, 2008 23:50:42 GMT -5
I think it would be totally awesome to have a huge tank dedicated to all sorts of different species of loaches. They're the one kind of fish that I would seriously consider breeding. Unfortunately many species will not breed in an aquarium. There are internet rumors that a guy accidentally bred clown loaches but it hasn't been confirmed. But you could have a big tank with many different kinds and since they're all schooling fish they would have their little shoals and scoot around the tank together. Plus, they're so peaceful for the most part that I really don't think you'd have a problem with aggression.
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theoden
Full Member
"They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all."
Posts: 86
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 0:29:51 GMT -5
Post by theoden on Dec 14, 2008 0:29:51 GMT -5
In my quest for more loaches (and variety), I bought four Yasuhikotakia Modesta (blue botias: remind me a little of "rainbow sharks) and two Botia Rostrata (ladder loaches). The Blue botias are swimming up and down the glass with the clowns. It's like they found some long-lost cousins. Wonderful additions! Anyone had either of these?
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 15:17:54 GMT -5
Post by Carl on Dec 14, 2008 15:17:54 GMT -5
Is this the Blue Botia you are referring too? Beautiful fish if so!! Carl
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 15:30:57 GMT -5
Post by murdock6701 on Dec 14, 2008 15:30:57 GMT -5
I'm looking for peaceful loaches that will eat the little black snails like candy! any suggestions? they'd be going into my SA, the one I used to have my rams in....also in there is a 5" pleco, a palm sized silver dollar, 3 silver hatchets, 4 harleqiun rasboras and a couple of 1" platys
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 15:43:06 GMT -5
Post by jonv on Dec 14, 2008 15:43:06 GMT -5
I've got those Red Tailed Blue Botia's and I will say this much. They don't appear to grow very fast at all, and have moments where they are very active, and other times, sit around doing nothing like a typical bottom feeder too. The color you see there though I wouldn't expect to see it. All those Botia's seem to fade in their blue look when in the tanks. They fade more into a darker navy blue then the nice bright blue you see in the stores. At least the four I have all did that. Might be due to being in African conditions though, not sure.
John, try the clown loaches, or almost any botia should work too.
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 15:51:33 GMT -5
Post by murdock6701 on Dec 14, 2008 15:51:33 GMT -5
have had the clowns before.....beautiful fish, but I only had the one and he preyed upon the other fish - killed and ate 2 blue gouramis and 2 female red velvet swordtails!
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 18:26:43 GMT -5
Post by bikeguy33 on Dec 14, 2008 18:26:43 GMT -5
in my opinion....for a small tank a pakisstani loach is the $h1t
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 19:25:24 GMT -5
Post by Carl on Dec 14, 2008 19:25:24 GMT -5
have had the clowns before.....beautiful fish, but I only had the one and he preyed upon the other fish - killed and ate 2 blue gouramis and 2 female red velvet swordtails! This is unusual IMO, in fact I currently have Clown loach in with swords, Mollies, a Ram, Angel and more. They do a reasonable job of keeping the snails in check. I also like the Zebra Botia (Loach), these guys do a a better job on snails and do not get big or bother other fish. Carl
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 21:57:29 GMT -5
Post by murdock6701 on Dec 14, 2008 21:57:29 GMT -5
thanks guys - and good luck w/ your butterfly Kagoma!
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theoden
Full Member
"They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all."
Posts: 86
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 23:05:48 GMT -5
Post by theoden on Dec 14, 2008 23:05:48 GMT -5
Aye, those are the blue botia I have. They've taken up residence under an articficial stump, but they come out to eat, and at one point were swimming up and down the tank with the clowns. The zebras you have look great. I'll have to wait till our pet store in Ruston, LA gets some though. I don't like ordering through the mail any longer.
I've had clowns for years, and I've never had one do anything to any other fish. Yours must have been a loner, a maverick with nothing else to do. I think they should always be kept with other clowns (like in a clown car). Maybe he was just terribly lonely, Murdock.
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loaches
Dec 14, 2008 23:23:22 GMT -5
Post by murdock6701 on Dec 14, 2008 23:23:22 GMT -5
I'm sure that was the case (his loneness and largeness) he also lived in a giant conch shell - rememnder the "shell of death" story on the old EA site? STINK! but found the remains of the other fish there.....read they have a barb they impale fish on and that they will lure or trap oyher fish and eat them - have to let them rot first, yhen eat the entrails first - should have posted that article - quite interesting....it's only a 20 gallon so I don't have room for more than 2 loaches - pakistani it will probably be as to the non-availability of zebra loachs here....
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loaches
Dec 15, 2008 0:08:24 GMT -5
Post by jonv on Dec 15, 2008 0:08:24 GMT -5
Still though, most any Botia should work as well. You've seen my polka dot botia right? Really nice looking fish and when I sold off the Albino Channel cat, I replaced that with a pair of Tiger Botia's. Really interesting fish I tell ya.
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loaches
Dec 15, 2008 16:30:05 GMT -5
Post by kagome on Dec 15, 2008 16:30:05 GMT -5
Murdock, in case you didn't see it check out the link to the polkadot loaches, also known as angelicus loach. They are not aggressive and don't get very big and would do well in your SA tank. They are very often available through Petsmart if you have one in your area. Usually they are juvies when bought at Petsmart and so they do not yet have the distinctive dots. On that link for them they show the juvenile coloration, it's more like black and white stripes, but is still quite attractive.
You just so happened to get the one in a million aggressive clown loach, they are generally very docile unless harassed. My biggest one did poke my gourami pretty hard the other day and cause some blood under the scale to well up but I happened to see the incident and the gourami was chasing the poor loach all over the tank for some reason and he finally stopped and stood his ground and gave the gourami a good poke with his face spikes. After that the gourami left him alone and there has been no further problem. As far as clowns being ambush predators as a rule, I truly have to wonder whether or not those fish are being fed properly. Clowns like a varied diet and are scavengers and so they do like meat. But I think they do much, much more finding of things that are already dead than active killing, hence their desire to let something rot before they eat it. Of course, I am probably biased because I am such a loach lover, lol! I hate for the loachies to be blamed for anything!
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theoden
Full Member
"They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all."
Posts: 86
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loaches
Dec 15, 2008 16:58:00 GMT -5
Post by theoden on Dec 15, 2008 16:58:00 GMT -5
I believe you, Murdock. I mean, even a guppy can be a bully, so I have to believe someone when he says that his loach was a miscreant. I know about these spines, so again, anything is possible. I know I'm going to make sure my loaches get a variety of food to eat. ;D
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