pleco/yoyo & kuhli loach compatiblity

[lhenson]

I am still cycling, but I think I am getting close. I plan to stock with Cardinal Tetras, Yoyo Loaches, Kuhli Loaches and perhaps some hatchets. I believe I will start with several Yoyo's first. I would like to have a small Pleco...Butterfly or Queen Arabesque. Is there any reason these fish wouldn't be compatible. Would a pleco be bothered by or bother my loaches?

[ScottishFish]

All this would depend on the set up and size of your tank. So what size is it, is it planted, any bogwood or decor, type of substrate?

[lhenson]

26 gal bowfront-planted. Large decoration root thing on one side with lots of holes and hiding spots. Fairly heavily planted, anubias barteri, creeping charlie, corkscrew val, bronze wendtii, 2- dwarf sag, dwarf baby tears, marble queen radican sword and some onion things. Sand with smooth gravel on top. I have too small airstone balls (one in front corner and along other back wall and one strip under big root thing. I have another little root thing deco for back corner for tight space for yoyo's and plan to put in wood for plec if I go that route.

[ScottishFish]

You will need to watch out with the plecos, some get massive! Are you getting oit to eat algae or just for the looks? Because if it is just for the look you will rarely see it, they are nocturnal.

I haven't any experience with yoyos so I'm not gona make up stuff, someone else will tell you the ins and outs of them and their suitability.

On the other hand I have lotsa experience with khulis!!! I love the little guys! They are amazing, you're tank seems well planted enough for them, the more shaded areas and hidey holes you have then the more you will see them. You could probs get 6-10 in your tank, they are pretty good cleaning fish also!

Neons I would wait until your tank has matured for 3 months or so. Hatchets can be skittish and would banefit from floating plants.

One plant my khulis love is cabomba, they actually sit in the plant!

[lhenson]

They are so cool and so are the Yoyo's...little characters. Right, I don't plan to get the Cardinals for a couple of months. They are more fragile than neon's aren't they? I was thinking the Yoyo's first, then the Kuhli's. I would like to get a Pleco to clean the algae. I was hoping to get a small one...4-5" max length. The Bristle-noses are kinda different looking, but there are a couple others that stay small and don't look scary : ) Do you have any other thoughts on a fish or several that would do the work of a Pleco? I am still cycling though. I have listed a cycling post as well because being a newbie I am kinda clueless. Thanks for your input!

[ScottishFish]

Imo plecos aren't too great for total beginners, what about shrimp or snails for the algae instead?

[lhenson]

I think the yoyo loaches might eat them? From what I have read, they suck them right out of their shells. I understand clown loaches eat shrimp, but I am not sure about Yoyo's.

[ScottishFish]

Yeah I know some loaches do, I'm not familiar on the yoyos, you won't have much of an algae problem if your tank is in a darker room, with no direct sunlight.

And yes I have read that cardinals are not as hardy as neons and require a mature tank. Have you looked up weather loaches for an idea? I have several, very fascinating, like khulis but larger.

[lhenson]

They look like fun. Yoyo's sound/look like a smaller version with yoyo markings : ) When I upsize I will definitely get some of those, but I think my 26" bow front will be to small for several of those.

[pjaldave]

Yoyo loach is not for that tank size. Also is most of the fish you said. They grow up to 8 inches and need be in school of at least 5.

Plus, i wont put any kind of algae eaters in a new tank, they won't have anything to eat anyways.

If you go with loaches, some of them are fin nippers and will nip away every fish that have long fins. Plus you really don't want to start with bottom feeders. Start with rather hardy fish as most tetras (except neons and cardinals) or livebearers.