Loaches: A Primer

[Sandman]

Great post! I'm in love with these guys.

The two Horsefaces I have in my tank are only 2" now but seem to already have grown in the week I've had them . . . didn't do my homework beforehand, so I didn't know they could be up to 8". Glad I only got a pair! They are captivating to watch because they suck sand in their mouth and shoot it out their gills. Same with pellet food before it gets softened.

There's a video of one of them sifting through the sand in the Videos section:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ad.php?t=60193

These horsefaces blink their eyes . . is that common to all loaches?

[Oscarloach]

For those looking under this thread, I didn't see anything about the "Weather loach", so here's a link to an informative site i found..

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/weather-loach-misgurnis-anguillicaudatus

. These little guys are perfect for people that enjoy quirkiness in their fish. I personally have one named "Leviathan", and I'll tell you that he adds character to my aquarium. He's kept with other placid fish, and when he was above ground, every single time a storm would come close, he'd start doin the daytona 500 around my tank. Now that I'm in a basement with him, it seems that the barometric changes aren't as noticeable to him. So, I'd advise keeping them above ground.

[Dave66]

I only list fishes in my primers that I've kept/keep myself, which is why weather loaches weren't in it.

Dave

[theskeptic]

I am preparing to stock a 75gal with loaches and had a question about the infamous 'loach dance'. The 75gal that I have was "rescued" from a home where it was left by a former roommate. The tank residents included 2 clown loaches of about 5 inches each and watching them do their dance, insisting that the Yellow Lab of similar size join them, has truly been a pleasure. Is this behavior unique to Clowns?

(The clowns are being rehomed)