Are there loaches suitable for a 20gallon?

Is it a 20 long? I had 6 in one for a while with harlequin rasboras. Now I have 6 kuhlis in it instead (moved the sids & added more-Love them!). I just had a HOB, it seemed like enough water movement.

I haven't kept embers, they're very tiny. Just don't get guppies or a betta, sids a a bit too "frisky" for slow, long fin swimmers.
 
fishorama said:
Is it a 20 long? I had 6 in one for a while with harlequin rasboras. Now I have 6 kuhlis in it instead (moved the sids & added more-Love them!). I just had a HOB, it seemed like enough water movement.

I haven't kept embers, they're very tiny. Just don't get guppies or a betta, sids a a bit too "frisky" for slow, long fin swimmers.
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:iagree:
 
The tank is a 20 high. 24" long by 12"w by 17"high. Do you think I could still put a small group of chain loaches in there?
 
It's smaller than I'd be happy with even though it's only 6" different. But if you decide to get them anyway (I know they're hard to resist) get 5 or 6, they really do best in a group. They'd be worth working toward a 3 ft or larger tank. Once you go "loachy" you never go back!
 
yoyo or zebra loaches are ideal... what ever the experts say they dont grow over 6-8 cm in a home aquarium(my experience), so you can keep 5-6 of them. they stay at the bottom all the time so you can also get some small fish for the top. they are good scavengers and keep the bottom clear of extra food.
 
Preeths said:
yoyo or zebra loaches are ideal... what ever the experts say they dont grow over 6-8 cm in a home aquarium(my experience), so you can keep 5-6 of them. they stay at the bottom all the time so you can also get some small fish for the top. they are good scavengers and keep the bottom clear of extra food.
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Preeths, I'd like to know how you are keeping these loaches that they grow smaller than what I expected. Yoyos are by far the fastest growers. I have 18 here and my largest is nearing 5-6 inches. What size is your tank? What foods do you feed them? What is the filtration capacity and water change schedule?

You are quite wrong to suggest these are scavengers. They are not. This is a myth along with the line they stay at the bottom. Mine are scattered over the surface, middle and bottom and what is more they also eat on the surface so as a matter of fact, these are not just bottom feeders. Zebras are smaller at 3-4 inches only so that is expected but 6 cm is even smaller than average size.

fishorama said:
A 20g, even a long, is much too small for yoyos or zebras.
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Correct. Give them a bare minimum of 40g for a group of 6 of either species, they'll be satisfied.
 
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If I moved the Cories to the 20, could I do some of these other loach species in the 55 with the 2 small dojos? Knowing that I would be able to move them to a 90 in a few years? Lupin - I wish I could absorb all your fishy knowledge! Thank you for sharing your expertise. I think the loaches are enchanting. I love those wiskery noses.
 
It's back to temperature compatability. Dojos, rosy barbs & some corys like it cooler than tropical loaches do. I'm not sure of pandas preferences ~75' I believe. There are some botias that have a wide temp range but not sids & none as low as dojos AFAIK.

Check loaches.com & planetcatfish.com for good info.
 
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