08 Loaches
Description
This article is from the Aquaria: Good (and Bad) First Fish; Breeding FAQ, by Dean Hougen and Elaine Thompson
08 Loaches
Loaches are long-bodied Asian fishes distantly related to the
Cyprinids (Barbs, Danios, etc.) described above. Like Cory Cats,
loaches have a down-turned mouth equipped with barbels - an adaptation
for living and feeding at the bottom of ponds and streams. They will
scavenge the tank bottom eating the food missed by other fishes, but
you should take care to see that they get enough to eat. Special
sinking foods are a must.
Some loaches are sensitive to poor nitrogen cycle management, which is
why they are included here, rather than in the Good First Fish
section. Once the tank is established and the beginner seems to have
gotten the hang of maintaining a tank, however, loaches make great
additions to most community fish populations.
The most commonly seen loaches are the Kuhli Loaches -
Acanthophthalmus species. These are long, ribbon-like fishes which
grow to be 4" long. Brown with yellow stripes and bands, Kuhli Loaches
are shy and spend a lot of time buried in the gravel.
Another popular group of loaches are the members of the genus Botia.
Clown Loaches - B. macracantha, Yo-Yo Loaches - B. lohachata, Skunk
Loaches - B. horae, Blue Loaches - B. modesta, and Striated Loaches -
B. striata are all seen in the hobby. Some of these (notably Clown and
Blue Loaches) can get big, but they grow extremely slowly and can live
in a small aquarium for several years. Loaches will often be happier
if kept with a few of their own species.
Weather Loaches - Misgurnus fossilis and Spotted Weather Loaches -
Cobitis taenia should be avoided. They are cold water species and have
the unfortunate habit of jumping out of aquaria, especially at the
approach of a storm.
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