10 gal tank = no loaches at all?

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.

 

If you have snail problem bleach your plants before you buy them to kill the snails and no snail problem. I understand some people say no bleach will come near my fish tank but I'v been doing this for 8 months and no unexplained fish deaths, none at all actually from bleaching, and I'v had zero snails. If you are comfortable doing this let me know as today I'm just going to make a step by step process on doing this and see if I can sticky it as I'm having to keep retyping it so many times. Otos would be great, get 4
Austin

 

Wow, if you're retyping this a lot then snails is a pretty common problem then...

Currently I have no snails, just eggs on plants that I returned to the lps. I bought other plants that I sat, with a very bright spot light, and combed over twice, removing many eggs actually, before they went into the 10 gal. so I've cut down the number of possible snails I think.

Bleaching might be better than the Had A Snail toxic mix they sell to kill snails!!

I'm thinking that if I do get snails after my plant cleaning, I'll pick them out as I see them. I hate throwing them into the trash is the thing...they're alive and all....so...am doing what I can to prevent getting them to begin with so I don't have to make trips to lps to give them away rather than throw them out.

I'll watch for the sticky and if you don't want to sticky it then, yes, I would like the bleach information and TY. I may have to resort to the bleach bath if cleaning the plants well and picking out snails that I miss gets too daunting.

 

TY? Ya actually I'm going to have to wait a week t write the post as I don't have much time right now with school and all the teachers trying to cram stuff in before break because I just got projects that I have a week to do them in > But ya few pointers to help you out real quick. Bleach bath 19:1 ration, 19 water bleach 1. Just do enough to submerge your plants in. Hold them in there for no more than 30 seconds but need to do it 30 seconds so you kill the snails. Make sure you wash the plants with water well after that. If you don't want to do that then you can do what you did, remove all visible snails and eggs and also wash under fast flowing tap water to get some off. Had a snail didn't work for me. If you use that make sure you folow directions, as it will kill inverts and possibly catfish I can't remember about those but I know it kills inverts. I just throw mine away but if you have a problem with killing them then just throw them in a jar with a few flakes for a little bit till you make a trip to the lfs. also to help eliminate possible snails you can try leaving a piece of lettuce or cucumber in there until you see snails, supposedly works but never worked for me and also feed less and remove all uneaten food because they multiply with uneaten food. Yes this is a common problem that I'v fought and have finally defeated.

Have any questions I'll try to answer them.

Austin

 

Thank You very much for the information Austin. Very helpful. Keeping them in a jar until I get to the lps....finding ways to lure them, smart. I didn't think of either!

I have the bleaching info written down now too so I'm all set

 

Just remember to rinse them good after bleaching and to let them soak a bit in extra strong dechlorinated water before putting them in the tank. also the bleach dip may kill some fine leaved plants.
carol

 

Ok Butterfly. Thanks

 

Well good luck