chrisd000111

i have a 55 gal tank with 8 angelfish in it and an algae eater. out of nowhere snails have been popping up rapidly and the tank has been set up for about 8 months. i am interested in loaches so they will eat the snails but loaches have to be in groups. if i get 3 loaches will my tank be too crouded with 8 angels 1 algae eater and 3 loaches. and will it be any different in the matinance of the tank. also what kind of food do the loaches eat and which loach would be the best for my tank
thanks alot sorry for all the questions at once
Chris

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore

I'm sorry I can't answer your loach questions, but I wanted to welcome you.

Other members know more about them than I do, especially Butterfly, she'll probably see this in the morning and be able to help.

Good luck with your decision

hkirchen

What kind of algae eater do you have? That will be important in the answer. I assume that you have a common pleco? If you do, you are at max already with 8 angels(6 inch full grown size). At least if you use the 1" rule. Maybe angels bio load is not that much, I do not know, I do not have any.

If you decide that the bio load can handle it, I would reccomend Yo Yo Loaches. The do not get super big, they are very fun to watch, and they are excellent snail eaters! (I have 3 of them, and I was totally snail infested until they arrived in my tank) Now that I have them, they are my favorite fish in my tank!

agabr123

i agree, yoyo loaches would probably be the best choice for your tank if you decide to get them.

however, 8 angelfish in a 55 unfortunately is asking for trouble, especially if two of them pair of and start spawning, in which case they'll get extremely aggressive. have you noted any aggressive behavior from them yet?

chrisd000111

sometimes they just chase each other around but it is not violent towards each other and the algae eater is a pleco

and is the bio load and inch of fish to gallon

Butterfly

There are several good Loaches for that size tank but with eight angels already you really don't have room. Instead of adding fish to take care of the problem lets see if we can help get rid of the snails first.
Snails are good for your tank. They eat dropped food and keep the substrate loose by crawling around in it hunting for food. The problem comes if you have a population explosion. Snails grow according to how much food is available to them. They are frequently a symptom of over feeding. Weekly 25% (or larger) water changes, thorough substrate vacuuming and not over feeding (a fishes stomach is the size of one eye) will go a long way to keeping them from multiplying so fast. I know angels are piggies and will eat as long as you feed them and beyond if possible. The more they eat the more waste they produce . The more food dropped and waste added to the tank the bigger the snail population explosion. One way to get rid of them now that you have them is to bait them. At lights out drop a piece of lettuce, zucchini etc in the tank. In the morning before turning the lights on the veggies should be covered with snails, dig it out and throw the snails away. with careful maintenance and baiting you should be able to knock the snail population way down.
If you still want a loach (I hate to see people buy a fish they really don't want just to solve a problem) Yoyos (Botia almorhae), zebra Loaches (Botia striata), Polkadot Loaches (Botia kubotai) get about 5 inches and are excellent snail eaters. Then there is the tinly Dwarf Chain Loaches(Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki) which might be a better idea for your tank. They get to be about 2.5 inches. Here's a good place to research for what you want http://www.loaches.com/
Carol

chrisd000111

thanks that was a big help and if i get loaches i know that you should not just get one. so with my tank how many would be ok

Butterfly

good Sorry for writing a book but I can't help myself when it comes to loaches
carol

Grimm

I know Loaches get along well with their own specific species, how do they get along with other loaches? If I were to buy a Dwarf Loach would he swim around with my Khuli Loaches or would he isolate himself?
I have MTS in my small tank and am looking for a snail eater without hindering my bioload which is I think is under by the 1 inch per/gal sitting at about 14 of 20 not counting snails. I'm just thinking that it would be nice to have a loach in there if the snails started getting out of control.

Butterfly

See my reply above. It's never good to buy fish to solve a problem Loaches should never be kept as single specimen.
Carol

fishchick

i know i need a loach for my 75 gall , but i just have the pleco and a redfin shark!

Butterfly

Loaches do not need to be by them selves they need to be in groups of at least three.
Carol