Loach fish consist of some of the most popular of all tropical fish, adding color, interest, and beauty to any larger community aquarium. Loaches are semi-aggressive fish when housed in the aquarium individually, so it is important to maintain each species in groups of six or more to minimize aggression.

What kind of fish are Loaches?

Loaches are fish of the superfamily Cobitoidea. They are freshwater, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish found in rivers and creeks throughout Eurasia and northern Africa. Loaches are among the most diverse groups of fish; the 1249 known species of Cobitoidea comprise about 107 genera divided among 9 families.

Is a loach a freshwater fish?

Loaches (superfamily Cobitoidea) are a group of predominantly small freshwater fishes. At present 1043 species are known in 111 genera split between 10 families. Around 50 species are important as aquarium fishes, but essentially all species can be maintained in the aquarium.

Do Loaches need a heater?

With an ability to thrive in water temperatures as low as 50°F, the Dojo Loach should be at the top of your list for fish that don't need heaters. They'll be just fine!

What fish can you keep with Loach?

1. Other Clown Loaches. It is absolutely essential to keep clown loaches in a group. ...
2. Discus. Discus are large South American cichlids that are pretty much the jewels of the aquarium world. ...
3. Rainbowfish. ...
4. Barbs. ...
5. Severums. ...
6. Gouramis. ...
7. Tetras. ...
8. Plecos.

Top 10 Loaches for Your Aquarium

What does a loach eat?

What Do Loaches Eat? While most loaches will accept a wide variety of foods, special consideration should be given to those species that come from fast moving water, such as the Hill Stream loaches. Many of these fish feed on algae, cyanobacteria and other microorganisms that colonize rocks on the bottom.

Do loaches clean tanks?

Clown Loaches will be everywhere in your tank scavenging for food. They'll sift the substrate, sneak behind little decorations, and generally do a great job picking up the messes. These are not very easy to keep and the biggest fish on the list.

How big do loach get?

Most of the loaches are not very large, being only a few inches, but there are exceptions with a few of the Botia reaching over 12" (30 cm) and the exceptionally large Royal Clown Loach which can reach up to 20" (50 cm).

Do loaches need a filter?

It's very important to keep the water clean and well-oxygenated. Kuhli Loaches require a soft substrate such as sand and fine gravel mix. ... They prefer good water movement with a turnover of at least 10 times per hour; you will need a good quality filter for this.

Is a loach an eel or fish?

Description. The kuhli loach is an eel-shaped fish with slightly compressed sides, four pairs of barbels around the mouth, and very small fins. The dorsal fin starts behind the middle of the body, and the anal fin well behind this.

Is a loach a catfish?

The loach catfishes are a family, Amphiliidae, of catfishes (order Siluriformes). They are widespread in tropical Africa, but are most common in streams at high elevations; most species are able to cling to rocks in fast-flowing streams.

Can you eat loach?

This type of Loach is edible, and is used in soups in places like Japan and Korea, but is also kept in an aquarium. Golden Weather Loaches originate from Asia and are found in freshwater rivers, lakes and ponds.

What is the smallest loach fish?

The smallest loach on our list is the rosy loach because it only reaches 1-1.25 inches (2.5-3 cm) long.

Are loaches easy to keep?

Loaches are a fun addition to any tropical freshwater aquarium. Generally, they are peaceful scavengers that spend their time rooting about for tidbits of food on the bottom. Many Loach species actually prefer to be kept in schools, and some species will literally pine away with loneliness if kept alone.

Why are loaches expensive?

The vast majority of clown loaches available in shops are wild caught, since this species is quite prolific in nature. The cost of capture and transfer is reflected in the price. They do breed in captivity when they are around six inches, but no one I know of has caught them in the act.

Are loaches aggressive?

Loaches are semi-aggressive fish when housed in the aquarium individually, so it is important to maintain each species in groups of six or more to minimize aggression. Loaches are active bottom dwelling scavengers ideally suited for the community aquarium.

Can loaches live alone?

Kuhli loach is a small eel-like freshwater fish belonging to the loach family. The species is hardy and long-lived in the aquarium environment and get along well with their own kind. Kuhli loaches are suited for household aquariums and can be kept alone in the tank.

Do loaches sleep?

yes, typical loach behaviour... I have 13 loaches and they frequently sleep in weird positions.

Do loaches eat algae?

While hillstream loaches are great at consuming flat types of algae, you may also need a more nimble-fingered algae eater that can reach into narrow gaps or tear off chunks of fuzzy algae. ... They are one of the rare animals that will eat black beard algae and hair algae, but only if you don't feed them too much.

Are loaches bottom feeders?

Botia loaches are a bottom feeder fish I have seriously considered dedicating an entire tank to. I've always found their coloration and behavior really interesting. Be sure to research the species as some of these guys can get VERY large, especially clown loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus).

Can loaches live with guppies?

Kuhli Loach

Despite their unique look, Kuhli Loaches are actually very peaceful and get along with tons of other freshwater species (especially Guppies!). Like a few other species on our list, Kuhli Loaches prefer to be kept in small groups of 3-5 individuals.

Do loaches eat at night?

Kuhli Loach should be treated no differently to all the other fish in your aquarium. They will need the same types of foods at the same time as others. Yes, Kuhli Loach will eat throughout the night and search for leftover food. You do need to give them every opportunity to feed like all your other fish.

Do you need to feed loaches?

What Do Kuhli Loaches Eat? Kuhli loaches are great clean-up crew members when it comes to rooting out any crumbs leftover by other fish, but you must specifically feed them to make sure they don't go hungry. They prefer sinking foods such as community pellets, Repashy gel food, frozen bloodworms, and live blackworms.

Do loaches like sand?

They do best in soft, slightly acidic water. The tank setup for this loach should resemble its natural habitat, slow moving streams. The substrate can to be a large grain sand or fine gravel that does not have sharp edges. ... Substrate Type: Sand/Gravel Mix - Substrate should be smooth.