AesSedai
- #1
Bummer. I wanted loaches to help w/the snails that'll come w/the live plants I'm growing. But, I have a 10 gal. and a Betta named Zen.
From what I'm reading, I can't have any loaches.
8 gal. actual tank volume = 8" total (adult) fish length. Zen is 3" so that only leaves 5" of fish length left for tank mates for Zen.
Even the smallest loach, the Kuhil loach, can get 3 1/2" possibly more. If kept alone, they are rarely seen and to enjoy their antics, they need numbers, preferably 6 of them so tank limit exceeded. Couldn't even get 2 of them.
They need a lower pH ( 5.5 - 6.8 ) that I can keep mine ( 7.2- 8.0 ) and they don't like water hardness and mine's always 250, too high for them. Temp too, they prefer it lower than Zen's 80 degrees and can only survive for a short while at that temp.
Substrate a big factor in protecting their barbells it seems. I'd need to switch mine to sand or really small, non rough stones because they dig around in it.
I'm sure this is the case...no loaches for me....but if anyone know's something different, I'd love to hear it.
Zen can't go back to his now cycled 10 gal tank until I can put his tank mates in first so trying to decide. Looking into just Oto's now I think.
From what I'm reading, I can't have any loaches.
8 gal. actual tank volume = 8" total (adult) fish length. Zen is 3" so that only leaves 5" of fish length left for tank mates for Zen.
Even the smallest loach, the Kuhil loach, can get 3 1/2" possibly more. If kept alone, they are rarely seen and to enjoy their antics, they need numbers, preferably 6 of them so tank limit exceeded. Couldn't even get 2 of them.
They need a lower pH ( 5.5 - 6.8 ) that I can keep mine ( 7.2- 8.0 ) and they don't like water hardness and mine's always 250, too high for them. Temp too, they prefer it lower than Zen's 80 degrees and can only survive for a short while at that temp.
Substrate a big factor in protecting their barbells it seems. I'd need to switch mine to sand or really small, non rough stones because they dig around in it.
I'm sure this is the case...no loaches for me....but if anyone know's something different, I'd love to hear it.
Zen can't go back to his now cycled 10 gal tank until I can put his tank mates in first so trying to decide. Looking into just Oto's now I think.