What happens if a weather loach is kept alone?

Ive heard they need to be kept in groups of alteast 3. Why so?

What happends if kept less in a fancy goldfish tank?

 

I am told they prefer to be in groups but I was never told exactly why. I originally had 4 of them, but 2 of them died early on ( over a year ago ) and so now I have a 9.5 inch dojo who I've had almost 2 years and a smaller one 4 inches that I've had for a year. They live happily with a small group of kuhlI loaches. I've seen no aggression from any of them and or with my community tank.

I don't plan on getting any more Dojo's at this time. As for the goldfish, I don't have any experience with that but since they prefer cooler waters like the Goldfish, I can't see why they can't live together?????? I'm sure someone else can chime in on that..........

 

The reason they should be kept with three minimum is because they are a social species who enjoy the company of their kind. It won't harm them to be kept on their own, but you will see far more natural behaviour from them in a group. Similar to how schooling fish will create a more natural display in higher numbers.

It is a rare loach who prefers to be on its own. They exist, but you're not likely to see those species in the average fish store.

They might do well with comets, but their boisterousness could bother some of the slower moving fancy goldies out there. I hear that they often are kept with goldfish. It's a personality thing, I guess. If the goldfish seem stressed by the loach, it may be a good idea to separate them.

 

The reason they should be kept with three minimum is because they are a social species who enjoy the company of their kind. It won't harm them to be kept on their own, but you will see far more natural behaviour from them in a group. Similar to how schooling fish will create a more natural display in higher numbers.

It is a rare loach who prefers to be on its own. They exist, but you're not likely to see those species in the average fish store.

They might do well with comets, but their boisterousness could bother some of the slower moving fancy goldies out there. I hear that they often are kept with goldfish. It's a personality thing, I guess. If the goldfish seem stressed by the loach, it may be a good idea to separate them.

I got my kuhlI loaches like 2 weeks ago and haven't seen any since I got 5 from a reliable fish store

I am told they prefer to be in groups but I was never told exactly why. I originally had 4 of them, but 2 of them died early on ( over a year ago ) and so now I have a 9.5 inch dojo who I've had almost 2 years and a smaller one 4 inches that I've had for a year. They live happily with a small group of kuhlI loaches. I've seen no aggression from any of them and or with my community tank.

I don't plan on getting any more Dojo's at this time. As for the goldfish, I don't have any experience with that but since they prefer cooler waters like the Goldfish, I can't see why they can't live together?????? I'm sure someone else can chime in on that..........

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I want a huge dojo loach now haha! Where'd you get it? How much did you get it for if you remember?

 

I got my kuhlI loaches like 2 weeks ago and haven't seen any since I got 5 from a reliable fish store

My 9 kuhlis are out all day long, but my tank is entirely catered to them. They are incredibly comfortable. I've even fed a couple of them right out of my hand.

It's actually rather common for people to get kuhlis, never see them, assume they've died, and then find them again months or even years down the road.

 

My dojo's are out all day swimming, eating, etc.... My Kuhli's on the other hand mostly come out after the lights go out ( except when I feed everyone during the day in which they eat and then go back in to their cave )

My large 9.5 inch dojo likes to be hand fed and petted. He waits for me and will come up to the tank to get his daily head pats.

I want a huge dojo loach now haha! Where'd you get it? How much did you get it for if you remember?

It was at Petsmart. I had gotten 2 at the time ( YettI and another named Dragon which passed away )
Dragon was the same size as the one shown here ( his name is spaghettI ) and YettI was about 5 inches big when I got him. I was told that he was there for at least 6-7 months ( probably longer as no one could remember exactly ) and several dojo's had come and gone and by the time I got there, there was only the 2 left. I couldn't take the smaller one and leave the larger one in the tank by himself.
Best decision ever! He has been the best, animated, amusing and personable fish I have ever had. He clicks his mouth at the surface when he see's me coming and will wait right at the front until I open the lid. If I remember correctly, he was $3.98 as they were on sale - he was my "bargain" fish that week.........

 

I have 11 or 12 kuhlis in my tank. Sometimes they are out all day and sometimes I can't find a single one. The black ones are out more than the banded. I have a single dojo in my tank right now but plan on getting a couple more soon and moving my kuhlis to the guppy tank. My dojo has become quite attached to one of the moss balls. When he's not looking for food he's hanging close to that.

 

My dojo has become quite attached to one of the moss balls. When he's not looking for food he's hanging close to that.

Mine does something similar with the "uprooted" plants that are floating - he likes to move it around the tank and leave it near where he is going to be sleeping. Weirdest thing! And its only this one batch of plants ( I have 2 others that he won't touch )

 

So in other words its ok if I just keep one if I just add some hiding cave ornaments? I saw them a few weeks ago at a local petshop and they looked amazing like little worms. They were no bigger than 2 inches. If I were to get a dojo are there any special requirements? Different foods? Also what to they do? scavenge?

 

Cleaned my aquarium one was rotten and dead and in half in one of my decorations (the smell was horrible!) and I have no clue where the other 4 are, I don't have many hiding spots at all so I'm at a loss of where they might be!

 

So in other words its ok if I just keep one if I just add some hiding cave ornaments? I saw them a few weeks ago at a local petshop and they looked amazing like little worms. They were no bigger than 2 inches. If I were to get a dojo are there any special requirements? Different foods? Also what to they do? scavenge?

I'm not saying you should or shouldn't just keep one - if you are able to get a few, that's probably the most ideal and probably would enjoy being with others of its kind. I just happened to be in a situation where the 2 of 4 died and wasn't able to get any new ones at the moment and they did just fine. I don't believe that you HAVE to have ( insert number here ) and its just generally a guideline. There are more import factors in your tank to consider, be it stocking, temps for everyone and compatibility.

They scavenge and will eat most everything else you give to the other fish. I feed all of my fish a variety of fresh food ( veggies ) pellets, frozen foods such as Daphnia, Bloodworms and BBS.