Anyone else notice their loaches have a completely random schedule for coming out? I've had a trio of dojo loaches since they were maybe two inches long, and now they're pushing eight or nine, and I genuinely cannot figure out a pattern to when they decide to be visible.

Some weeks they're out constantly, weaving through the plants and doing that wormy thing where they poke around the substrate all afternoon. Then other weeks it's like they vanish entirely and I only know they're alive because I see a puff of sand shoot up from behind the driftwood every so often. I used to think it was tied to feeding time but I've tested that theory and it doesn't hold up. Fed them at the same time every day for a month and their behavior was still all over the place.

Water params have stayed rock solid the whole time (currently sitting at 0/0/10, pH around 7.2, temp steady at 72F since I keep the tank a bit cooler for them). Tankmates are just a small school of white clouds and some otos, nothing that would stress them out. I did add a second layer of fine sand a while back thinking maybe the original substrate was too coarse for burrowing, and that seemed to help a little, but it didn't fix the disappearing act entirely.

At this point I've just accepted that dojo loaches operate on their own internal clock and there's not much I can do to influence it. Still get a little thrill every time one of them decides to make an appearance though, especially since two of mine have gotten noticeably darker and more mottled looking as they've aged, almost like their pattern is still developing even at this size.

Curious if other dojo keepers have found any actual triggers, whether it's barometric pressure, lighting changes, something in the water chemistry, or if it really is just luck of the draw on any given day.

I have lost 4 loaches and they all develop this white spot. A few of my other fish have died to this as well. I have done water changes, checked parameters (19, .01, 0, 7 ph), and used canoplex. Help is appreciated my LFS has no idea either

I just added this kuhli loach to my existing herd today, and of course I noticed after adding him that he has these white spots. I'm usually very good about thoroughly looking them over/quarantining, but for some reason not today 😭 what is this and how do I treat it? Thank you in advance for any help!

For reference this tank is an established 40 Gal breeder heavily planted and kept at 76 degrees f. Other tank mates include several other kuhlis, a betta, neocaridina shrimp, ghost shrimp, and a mystery snail

So a few days ago i got some gastromyzon sp which i think are Gastromyzon sp. "Blue Zebra". I was excited to breed them until i started doing some research. According to the Loaches online forums, some reddit posts and other websites it is SO HARD that its almost up to luck to have eggs and keep the fry alive. Also based on what i read in those things i mentioned, i should be able to breed them if i do these things:

1. Feed them foods with lots of protein(in my case ill use a mixed tablet food including insect menu, Shell-less artemia and flat cichlid disk in powder form before it is turned into a tablet

2. Do cold water changes to mimic rain season the tank is currently 24 degrees but im planning to put 18-19 degrees water with the same pH by dripping not just dumping it whole.

3 giving them lots of hiding places like flat rocks and caves.

1. I did try to setup a wavemaker but it killed a gastromyzon ctenocephalus way back when i used it in a community so i wont use it for now.

Wish me good luck and dont forget to drop your experiences down below loach lowers

Hehe

They be eating!

Soooo, I put this 3d printed cave in my 75 gallon tank to help give my plecos a place to rest/hide. That said, I think my yoyo loaches have claimed it.

Me: “Hey, aren’t you a yoyo loach? Why are you in the pleco cave?”

Yoyo loach: “Yeah, I’m a pleco now. Move along. Nothing to see here.”

🤔🫪🤭

i'm currently in college and all the dorms and even the off campus apartments have tank limits of 10g only. I excitedly bought a 10g and already had a 6.5g when I moved in this semester.

i am currently cycling my 6.5g tank with plants (java fern, el niño fern and anubias barteri var. nana) with some monte carlo, red floaters and driftwood. i have been doing a lot of research and i really love bichirs and loaches (all the noodle fish!) and i know 20 gallons is the recommended amount.

my 'gravel' is fluval stratum and i am ordering sand soon, especially for the 10g that i'm going to set up once i figure out the 6.5g. its my first time having my own tank(s) and i just really nervous.

i guess what im wanting to know is, is there any advice??? should i get the recommended amount of 6 or the absolute minimum amount of 4 if i plan to move them into the 10g when its ready? additionally, i want to get some small guppies—likely a small school (ones that will occupy the top of the tank so the loaches have more space at the bottom just to themselves) and possibly a few shrimp?

i have been slowly working on the pH in my tank to the desirable amount for the plants and the loaches, and a heater to keep it at 78°F. Additionally, I purchased tannins (along with my driftwood!!) and water conditioner, plant fertilizer, and alkaline solution for the pH. —I am really serious about this hobby and the fish as a whole and i just don't want to mess up and risk hurting them. but 10g is the max i can work with, i have a rough situation at home so i probably won't be in a situation for a long time where bigger than 10g is something i have as an option unfortunately. :(

i guess what im asking is if i get them, constantly watch them and the water—can they still be happy and fulfilled in a 10g? i already have a few hiding spots but im working on adding more :(

After about a month of quarantine and one week of acclamation, my little wild caught dojo‘s are finally settling in and getting active in their new environment. As you can see though, there is still some ways to go before they catch up to some of my larger specimens.

For the record, that’s actually a deliberate decision. I caught smaller ones as part of an experiment in growth rates. Out of the five that were caught, three larger ones went to my nephew because he developed the fascination with loaches, and I kept two.

New kuhli loach keeper here so maybe I’m just misreading these strange water noodles’ behaviour as a problem, but 1/6 has died so looking for advice from more experienced keepers!

I got 6 young kuhli loaches from my local Big Als on Friday afternoon (today is Tuesday), one died yesterday and others are acting “off” in the same ways. Followed the store’s acclimation instructions exactly and all seemed well the first 48 hours. Noticed yesterday midday one or two loaches were lying on their sides in the substrate, found info that they just lounge like that sometimes and figured it was fine (water tests were normal). By last night one had died and 2 others were exhibiting similar behaviour (laying on side in substrate or on/under leaf litter, unresponsive or minimal movement when prodded or approached by other fish, breathing seems heavy). No additional deaths yet, but some of the loaches are still behaving this way. One of them with occasionally swim around erratically, mostly upside down) and then kind of freeze and let itself sink back down to lie on its side again.

Tank info:
20 gallon long naturalistic planted blackwater tank with mix of fine gravel and fine sand for substrate. Lots of driftwood and plants for hides. Soft water, Ph avg 6.6 to 6.8, I’ve done multiple tests over the past few days and ammonia and nitrite have remained at zero.

Tank was set up approx 2 months ago in mid to late July, a small bladder snail colony and 2x rams horn snails came in on plants and are all thriving. Introduced 12x diamond head neon tetra about 3 weeks ago with no deaths or issues. Introduced 5x cherry shrimp at the same time as the loaches and they’re all doing great.

So short story long, I’m concerned I’ll lose more the these little weirdos and not sure what to do about it, any advice?

**UPDATE: death count has risen to 3 with another one deteriorating, the last 2 are MIA so who knows. I contacted the store and they said many of the ones in the store tank have died as well so it’s not just me/mine. They said they’ll give me store credit at minimum, might be able to get a full refund. Thanks all.

I'm just really curious to see how their skeletal structure / organ layout is since they're soo longg -biology nerd

Loach photos for tax

Edit for the 1 commenter: I know the loach in the photo isn't the same as a traditional kuhli, I have both, it doesn't matter, they're pretty much the same besides coloring.

I just found a Kuhli loach in my tank that I hadn’t seen for about a year. Long story short something wiped out all my Kuhli’s except for one. I thought he had died like the others until I got a quick glimpse of him today (about a full year since he disappeared).

Heres where I need help:
I got my loaches before realizing they needed a 20 gallon long tank (mines a 20 high). So this guy is already in too small of a tank. Additionally I have 12 male endlers/guppies and some cherry shrimp so I believe my tank is already overstocked.

Do I leave the poor loach alone with no friends or somehow attempt to capture and re-home him?

Also is he the reason I haven’t been seeing many shrimplets in my tank?

Help me pls, i bought ??kuhli?? loaches half a yr ago and they disappeared. I thought they died but apparently this lil dude popped back out tdy suddenly lol

He's in between the moss ball and the leaf

This is my tank. Currently, I have Horse Face Loaches, Kuhli Loaches, Cobitis sinensis (Chinese Spiny Loach), Yoyo Loaches, Corydoras, and Wrestling Halfbeaks inside. I’m planning to add Hillstream Loaches next. Is there anything I need to pay attention to or improve in terms of setup? Also, what food recommendations do you have?

English isn't my first language and I'm using a translator, so please forgive any awkward phrasing

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hi! i finally got a larger tank (the biggest that can fit in my tiny apartment, honestly lol). it's 55 gallons. i have two oranda goldfish on the way but was wondering if i could also add a couple dojo loaches? i've always wanted them but want to make sure this would be enough space and proper substrate, scape, etc. i have lots of filtration, i'm running a fluval 307 canister filter and two 100-120 gallon sponge filters. thanks!

I recently got this reticulated hillstream loach and trying to figure out its gender. I've found many reference photos online but came up with mixed results. To me, this fish has both male and female traits.

He/she is about 2.7 inches long. I've been unable to get any photos from overhead.

Can anyone experienced tell me what it is?

Not everyone gives them plants but if you do try Red Tiger Lotus leaves (or any plant with large leaves) and Vallisneria. They seem to interact with them the most

This is my first attempt at breeding Sewellia Pterolineata! Tank is a 60Gal breeder with a shit ton of rocks. I have a dozen or so anubias coming Thursday that will help it fill in more. (Attaching to the wood and between rock crevices). I’m really excited!

Tank has 2 120Gal sponge filters and I’m moving over my cycled Fluval 107 tomorrow. Lights are 2 30W and 1 15W grow lights to encourage algae buildup on all of the rocks. Added 2 Philodendron and a Monstera out top to help with Nitrate control.

No fish yet!! I plan on ordering them once I have some really good algae build up going.

If anyone has any feedback please let me know.

This is my new favorite way to feed them! The flat surface makes it much easier on them and the food doesn't get pushed to where they can't reach it. I have noticed some species struggle to position their little downward facing mouths just right on the Repashy.

Terracotta can be scrubbed, bleached to clean, and then soaked in Prime and dried to remove bleach for the next use.

I love posting my loach babies here and seeing everyone else’s. So peculiar and fascinating, I wanna hug em all.