Loaches for a 55g

[PCG]

Hello all,

I'm getting a 55g tank this week, and want to get some loaches for it after it's cycled (I'm using filter media and substrate from an existing tank, so that should help speed things along). Any suggestions? I was thinking a nice shoal of dwarf loaches, if I can find them anywhere. I've seen yo-yos and tigers in the stores by me, but I have two corys and I don't think they can hang with those (plus I'm not sure if a shoal of yo-yos would be crowded in a 55?).

Basically, I have a 75g that had some small fish from a 20g I have since de-commissioned. But I got a couple of SA cichlids for the 75, and I want to move the smaller fish out so they don't end up as snacks.

The 55 will have, so far, 3 cherry barbs, 3 SAEs, 2 corys, 1 redtail, 4 rasboras, a rubber pleco (not the ones that get 10 in, but the one that gets 3), and a clown pleco. The plan is to plant the 55 with lower-light plants...I was thinking java ferns and moss, vals, maybe an amazon sword, and crypts. I've had luck with all of those in lower light setups, except crypts which I've never tried to grow before.

Any suggestions on loaches (most entertaining, best for tank size, etc)...and even some other plants to try...would be much appreciated. I have the empty 20g to move the corys to if that becomes absolutely necessary, although I'd rather not set up the third tank if I don't have to.

Thanks

[Goodbye]

The first thing I would do is get some more cherry barbs, cories and rasboras, All three of those species prefer to be in schools. I would get at 4 more cories, 2 more rasboras and 3 more cherry barbs.

When you say redtail, do you mean a Red Tailed Black Shark? Those tend to be agressive and somewhat teritorial torwards other fishes. Especially torwards those of same or similar species. Depending on the size, the one you have now may not be showing any signs of agression yet, but as they get larger they tend to show more aggresion. If you have to many bottom feeding fish, you will most definently have issues with the redtail shark. I would not add any loaches to your tank.

For plant suggestions, I would try Elodea, anubias, watersprite, onion plant and the plants that you listed. Those are all good choices for low light tanks. Although, Vals would be better off with more lighting.

Good Luck! :22:

[PCG]

Thanks for the reply.

I’ve had the redtail for about two years…he’s somewhere between 3 and 4 inches now. Up to now tiger barbs have been the only fish that have set him off. He even ignores the SAEs, which I hear usually rile up redtails. He’ll chase fish away from the entrance to his cave, but won’t pursue them any further than that.

However, I wouldn’t want to get loaches just to stress them out if the redtail decides to turn ornery. I'd like to have loaches, but am not so determined to do so that I'd go with an intentionally bad setup. Some possible ideas to make it work: I could keep the 20g handy to house the redtail and maybe one group of the small schooling fish when I get more? Then I can have loaches with the other schooling fish in the 55. My concern would be loaches with the corys. Would dwarf loaches and corys get along OK?

Alternatively, would the 20g be big enough to keep a shoal of dwarf loaches, maybe along with one of the schooling fish? Then I could leave the redtail in the 55, and that would solve the cory issue as well. Again any input would be appreciated.

Thanks for the plant suggestions, too.

[Swifterz]

yoyo loaches usually reach 4 or 5 inches max

[Lady Hobbs]

I have 5 clowns in a 55 but also trying to get rid of them. I love the little guys but I know eventually I will have to find them a home with a larger tank and they will be HE** to catch once larger.