Leokiss

Hi all,i was wondering if anyone has any knowledge on dwarf loach breeding? ie.. Their mating behavior,what kinda eggs,how many,ideal conditions.The usual stuff.Ive done a fairly extensive search and no one seems to have any idea! the ones we get in aquatic trade are all down to hormone treatment and thats a closley gaurded secret! I dont have intensions to breed them would just like to know a bit more about the fish i keep and if im lucky enough to have them breed it would be nice to spot it and understand whats happening. Mine are way too young to breed yet,i think.

armadillo

Hi Leokiss. All my info on my dwarf loaches was from loaches.com. As you've done extensive research, I presume you've checked that site, though. Sorry I can't be of further help. Hopefully Carol will come in. She loves her loaches.

Chief_waterchanger

The only people breeding them, as you said, is doing so through hormone injections. (I can't imagine that hormone injections would be anything less than painful for the fish, imagine a tiny needle to us is like a millionth the size of our body, to a fish that same needle is much larger.)

The best way to get hints towards breeding them would be to travel to the exact area they are caught in the wild, and study extensively EVERY single factor. It could be anything from the water temperature to the kinds of leaves decaying on the surface of the water to any other weird off the wall factor.

Butterfly

Yes I do love my loaches, such a personable group of fish. www.loaches.com is an excellent place for information on any type of loach.
Here is another article that I thought was interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_loach
Carol

armadillo

He he he. I knew it wouldn't be long! Can't blame ya, they're awesome fish.

My dwarf loaches eat from the stick like my mollies. One of them bit me, the little sod! They are so tame it's incredible.

Leokiss

Thanks for info all n yep ive looked at all them sites n didn't have no joy,oh well i may see if i can find out about them in thailand we got an house out there and will be going next year at some point. If i find owt out i'll be sure to post it.
Im thinking of getting some more i think they are great i can watch them for hours.I found my first empty snail shell other day so they have sussed snail eating out which im pleased about.I think they must eat the really small ones too cos had loads of snail eggs hatch over 2 week ago and yet to see any!

Leokiss

Oh i got a question too: I feed them frozen cubes of mixed foods which they love,but ive seen them taking the blood worms n they cant bit them up they spend ages swollowing the full length worm which i think cant be good or is this a quite normal way for them to feed? Will i be best chopping up for them?

Chief_waterchanger

Make them work for their food, otherwise your fish may get lazy. In the wild they must do some work for food, we make it overly easy with flake and pre-dead food, so them having to chew probably is a good thing.