help with loaches

[Redhead305]

I was looking into loaches for my 50g corner pentagon tank. i have sand in the tank so i was looking for something to handle my mts from over breeding. I looked at clown loaches and i see they get rather large im not entirely sure if there are any loaches that stay smaller that can look appealing and at the same time are effective at eating the snails.

Stock
3x pictus cat's
5-tiger barbs
1x- rainbow shark
2-bosami rainbows

im open to suggestions

i have an aquaclear110 on the tank for filtration.

[toddnbecka]

A group of dwarf chain loaches would be the best fit for that size tank.

[grogan]

yeah they would. I have 5 in my 29g and they work great. Botias need to be in larger groups but you rarely see people doing it because of the sizes they reach. Bam chain loach! The perfect loach

[Redhead305]

wud dey be able to eat mts and are they a better fit then a blk kuhlil loach?

[grogan]

They are botias...yes. Once mine got bigger they ate my cherry shrimp and snails. Your other choice could be zebra botia loaches. They are another smaller species. I believe they cap out a 4" ish. If you want the ULTIMATE snail killer go with a skunk loach...but be advised that they are true jerks. By that I mean they will destroy snails...and mess with everything else in the tank. hXcChic22 is our local loach expert, she might have some better advise.

[AquariumTech]

Loaches are awesome, but because of what you already have in there, you are kind of limited size/waste production wise; not to mention that with loaches bare bare bare minimum to put in there is 3 and really the minimum should be 5. Beside Dawrf loaches, which are one of my favorites you could do, Zebras, Angelicus, and there are a number of other usually rare loaches that would work. Although loaches like Khulis would fit in the tank, im not sure they would work out for your purpose of snail control.

[lohachata]

one of the best loaches that do not get huge are the lohachata loaches...or as you kids call them.....YOYO loaches.....they really don't need to be in large numbers ; 2 or 3 will work nicely..they are active and really do not bother other fish...although they may reach 6 inches in length ; they are not a large bodied loach like the clown...they are more slender.....and very good snailers....

[hXcChic22]

Originally Posted by grogan They are botias...yes. Once mine got bigger they ate my cherry shrimp and snails. Your other choice could be zebra botia loaches. They are another smaller species. I believe they cap out a 4" ish. If you want the ULTIMATE snail killer go with a skunk loach...but be advised that they are true jerks. By that I mean they will destroy snails...and mess with everything else in the tank. hXcChic22 is our local loach expert, she might have some better advise.

Daw, shucks! *blush*

But I agree with what everyone else has said. Almost ANY loach will tear up snails, but for a 50, I would recommend a school of either Dwarf, Yoyo, Zebra, Burmese Border, or maybe a couple Weather loaches. I find Weather to be the most entertaining, and they can get big, but it takes a while. We've had our biggest for over 18 months now and he's slowly growing now past 6/7 inches
And yes, stay away from Skunk. They will bother your other fish, even though they're a "bottom dweller".

[Redhead305]

of the reccomendations i like the zebra's so this will be my stock list with them
5 x Boesemans Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani)
1 x Rainbow Shark (Epalzeorhynchos frenatum)
3 x Pictus Catfish (Pimelodus pictus)
3 x Albino Tiger Barb (Puntius tetrazona)
2 x Tiger Barb (Puntius tetrazona)
3 x Zebra Loach (Botia striata)

[grogan]

With the barbs I would scratch the Boesmans. I think they would be picked on.

[Redhead305]

i know hence the reasons for the school

[AquariumTech]

5 is a little too small for a school and like minimum for shoaling.

By the way, awesome picture Loh, my Queens will let me touch them now if I am careful and slow, and my dwarfs I have only had for like 6-9 months, but they will come in my hands and eat, wont let me pick them up though.

[Redhead305]

what would you reccomend in place of the rainbows?

[AquariumTech]

Originally Posted by Redhead305 what would you reccomend in place of the rainbows?

Those are awesome fish, I would just cut down on the other fish you want. Like I think you mentioned Tiger Barbs, skip on those, their lame anyways then add more Bosami Rainbows.

Of course this is opinion, but its almost fact that Rainbows are cooler than Tiger Barbs lol.

[Redhead305]

hah lol most defintly they are. I defintly could do that since the rainbows come in so many different color