Dwarf Chain Loaches? What do you think of my stocklist?

[ameliaaahx]

Hey team! I'm just looking for yays or nays on my potential stocklists, and opinions on one or two fish.

Firstly, has anyone had any experience with Dwarf Chain Loaches or Striata Loaches? I had a lot of trouble when I tried keeping Yoyo Loaches, but botiine loaches are so cute so I want to give keeping them another go. I think I've read every single internet article on loaches ever at this point, and it's about 75% say peaceful, 25% say nippy and too boisterous for the average aquarium. Depending on the answers, I would probably prefer Striatas to the dwarf chains, because they're about a quarter of the price.

So, would either of these work:

45g Planted:
- 1 Angelfish
- 20 Harlequin Rasbora
- 4 Bolivian Rams
- X Striata Loach (4-5?)

25g Planted:
- 1 Gourami
- 20 Neon Tetras
- 6 Dwarf Chain Loaches

... I know that last one seems pretty overstocked with the Neons but I think I can get away with it. I used to have about 40 Neons in there plus 10 Kuhlies before I shut it down, and the 'trates never rose above 10ppm.

[steeler1]

I see that loach's on line states that striata loachs are peaceful enough for a community tank. Than reading about them at seriously fish it says they are usually peaceful but will still harrass slow moving fish like your Angel so I realy don't know. The one time I kept one he was a model citzen even with all the tetra's I kept with him in a 50 gal.

How expensive are the Chain Loach's? After reading your other post about the cost of Cardinal Tetra's I'm almost afraid to ask.

[ameliaaahx]

Haha, well I THINK I can get them direct through a wholesaler through a friend who buys a lot of fish, so they would be $14 ea. But if not about $20 if I'm lucky.

After reading I really think Chains are the way to go over the Striatas. If I can get them without selling a kidney...

[steeler1]

$13.00 or 6 for $60.00 from my dealer in Oregon.

[Carapar56]

Here's of the cheaper places to get Dwarf Chain Loaches: http://www.thatpetplace.com/Yasuhiko...n-loach-208102

[Gogi]

I think the 25 gal stocklist sounds good. Neons are small and the dwarf chain loach will be happy having the bottom all to themselves.

[ameliaaahx]

Thanks Gogi, that's the one I was swaying towards as long as I can get Chain's cheap. My Gourami spends a lot of time nosing around the bottom -- I hope he doesn't get nipped at.