Picking a bottom dweller

BettaLover · 07-04-2005, 01:04 PM

Hello,

I am in need of a bottom dweller to help clean up some of the mess my oscar is making. He's about 7 inches long now and is living with 3 medium sized Silver Dollars in a 180 with a sand bottom. He is probablly the biggest chicken of an Oscar ever, he hid from the silver dollars at first, but now seems to enjoy their company. Since he is quiet large though, I'm having trouble finding a large enough catfish or loach to put in with him because he would eat him. I was thinking about getting a couple of Clown or Biotia (sp?) Loaches because they get to 6 inches, but I can't find any that big, and I don't have any experiences with loaches, so I don't know if he does try to eat them are they fast enough to get away? He's pretty lazy, if it moves fast he doesn't even bother chasing it, so would a loach be able to get outta his way? How large do emerald cories get or are there any larger cories out there? I don't think I want a pleco.
Any comments are appreciated

Thanks guys!

*sarah*

**Baby_Baby** · 07-04-2005, 04:07 PM

I have 2 dojo loaches (aka weather loaches) and they clean really well. i'll get some info on em if you want it.

BettaLover · 07-04-2005, 04:28 PM

Sure Baby Baby, I'd like to know more about the Dojo loaches. What is their activity level? Like, are the fast and always moving or do they just lay around a lot?

Thanks
Sarah

fishfreaks · 07-04-2005, 05:27 PM

well its a myth that the "predict" the weather, and become extremly active when its going to rain

Gunnie · 07-04-2005, 08:13 PM

This is a great site for info on loaches:

www.loaches.com

maxpayne_lhp · 07-04-2005, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettaLover

Sure Baby Baby, I'd like to know more about the Dojo loaches. What is their activity level? Like, are the fast and always moving or do they just lay around a lot?

Thanks
Sarah

Mostly around in the bottom, as most loaches do. Most of the loaches may help you a part of the tasks.

**Baby_Baby** · 07-05-2005, 07:48 AM

oy. Loaches are very active. sometimes they'll just sit there, and then they'll zip around . Its good to keep them in pairs, because you'll see more action, but they won't take away from your tank. I had two in with a betta for a while, and they actually came to the top and cleaned him. The weird thing was that he didn't mind at all! They are very social, and usually don't hide. They will burrow into the rocks sometimes, and you won't be able to find them, that's pretty scary. Oh, remember:THEY ARE SUPERB JUMPERS! so make sure they don't have an escape route.

**Damon** · 07-05-2005, 08:54 AM

Loaches are probably not going to work with your oscar. You would have to find full grown laoches which will run a prety penny because you'll need 3 or more (perferrably 5). Loaches will not eat oscar waste either. If your are talking about the food he leaves then loaches might work, but for waste get out the old gravel vac

maxpayne_lhp · 07-05-2005, 09:01 AM

Right, as I told, "a part of the job"
Baby_Baby, be careful, some will need to school also, not only pairing.

BettaLover · 07-05-2005, 10:06 AM

Yes, I'm hoping that they will clean up parts of his uneaten food. Whenever he eats his pellets he will crunch them up in the back of his throat, and then small pieces of the pellets will come out of his gills. Anytime he eats he makes such a mess by tearing things apart. I've been looking on aquabid there are some larger loaches on there I might get.

**Baby_Baby** · 07-05-2005, 11:01 AM

weather loaches can be in pairs, they don't have to be schooled.

*GoGoGo Fish!* · 07-07-2005, 05:44 PM

Here is a catfish I like, and heres a page about it.
Royal Farlowella Cat
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=940
and this guy, too.

Synodontis Angelicus Catfish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=848

from,
*GoGoGo Fish!*

**Damon** · 07-08-2005, 09:34 AM

Whatever you get, remember its full grown size should be bigger than the oscars mouth. Slow growers won't help either.

07-04-2005, 01:04 PM	#1
BettaLover Silly Blondie... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southwest Michigan Age: 25 Posts: 22	Picking a bottom dweller Hello, I am in need of a bottom dweller to help clean up some of the mess my oscar is making. He's about 7 inches long now and is living with 3 medium sized Silver Dollars in a 180 with a sand bottom. He is probablly the biggest chicken of an Oscar ever, he hid from the silver dollars at first, but now seems to enjoy their company. Since he is quiet large though, I'm having trouble finding a large enough catfish or loach to put in with him because he would eat him. I was thinking about getting a couple of Clown or Biotia (sp?) Loaches because they get to 6 inches, but I can't find any that big, and I don't have any experiences with loaches, so I don't know if he does try to eat them are they fast enough to get away? He's pretty lazy, if it moves fast he doesn't even bother chasing it, so would a loach be able to get outta his way? How large do emerald cories get or are there any larger cories out there? I don't think I want a pleco. Any comments are appreciated Thanks guys! sarah

07-04-2005, 04:07 PM	#2
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,606	I have 2 dojo loaches (aka weather loaches) and they clean really well. i'll get some info on em if you want it. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

07-04-2005, 05:27 PM	#4
fishfreaks M&F Couple Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: PA Age: 21 Posts: 4,303	well its a myth that the "predict" the weather, and become extremly active when its going to rain __________________ VOTE FOR FISH FORUMS

07-05-2005, 07:48 AM	#7
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,606	oy. Loaches are very active. sometimes they'll just sit there, and then they'll zip around . Its good to keep them in pairs, because you'll see more action, but they won't take away from your tank. I had two in with a betta for a while, and they actually came to the top and cleaned him. The weird thing was that he didn't mind at all! They are very social, and usually don't hide. They will burrow into the rocks sometimes, and you won't be able to find them, that's pretty scary. Oh, remember:THEY ARE SUPERB JUMPERS! so make sure they don't have an escape route. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

07-05-2005, 08:54 AM	#8
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Loaches are probably not going to work with your oscar. You would have to find full grown laoches which will run a prety penny because you'll need 3 or more (perferrably 5). Loaches will not eat oscar waste either. If your are talking about the food he leaves then loaches might work, but for waste get out the old gravel vac __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

Members currently in the Chat:1
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07-04-2005, 04:28 PM	#3
BettaLover Silly Blondie... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southwest Michigan Age: 25 Posts: 22	Sure Baby Baby, I'd like to know more about the Dojo loaches. What is their activity level? Like, are the fast and always moving or do they just lay around a lot? Thanks Sarah

07-04-2005, 08:13 PM	#5
Gunnie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 156	This is a great site for info on loaches: www.loaches.com

07-05-2005, 09:01 AM	#9
maxpayne_lhp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: West Michigan Age: 20 Posts: 2,174	Right, as I told, "a part of the job" Baby_Baby, be careful, some will need to school also, not only pairing. __________________ ~Nam Nguyen~

07-05-2005, 10:06 AM	#10
BettaLover Silly Blondie... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southwest Michigan Age: 25 Posts: 22	Yes, I'm hoping that they will clean up parts of his uneaten food. Whenever he eats his pellets he will crunch them up in the back of his throat, and then small pieces of the pellets will come out of his gills. Anytime he eats he makes such a mess by tearing things apart. I've been looking on aquabid there are some larger loaches on there I might get.

07-05-2005, 11:01 AM	#11
Baby_Baby Friendly Neighborhood Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tulsa Posts: 3,606	weather loaches can be in pairs, they don't have to be schooled. __________________ *Why do you have to "put your two cents in"... but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?*

07-07-2005, 05:44 PM	#12
GoGoGo Fish! My Home is Pet Crazy Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: East Falmouth, Massachusetts Age: 17 Posts: 31	Here is a catfish I like, and heres a page about it. Royal Farlowella Cat http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=940 and this guy, too. Synodontis Angelicus Catfish http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=848 from, GoGoGo Fish!

07-08-2005, 09:34 AM	#13
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Whatever you get, remember its full grown size should be bigger than the oscars mouth. Slow growers won't help either. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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