Pregnant Loach

[AussieGal]

I noticed the other day that one of my loaches has a big fat tummy. I have two, and am now assuming one is male and one female. I've had the loaches for about 4 months, and all of a sudden one has the rounded stomach. Now, when I bought the loaches, the guy at my lfs said they were Diamond Loaches... but I cant seem to find anything on Google. Am frantically looking for any info on what to do. I don't have a separate tank set up that I could put it in... am not positive its pregnant and would feel mean putting her in a little plastic container floating around the top because they are so active.

My water parameters are perfect - one of my guppies just had babies and another is pregnant.

Dumb question - are they livebearers? :?

What to do????? Any suggestions would help. I read that loaches breeding in captivity isnt very common, so if she's pregnant, I definately want to do everything I can to save the babies.

*You can see my profile for tank setup

 

[AussieGal]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=1590

OK, I managed to find the species I have, its an Angelicus Botia Loach. The above link mentions that successful breeding in captivity has yet to be recorded!!! (I've also figured out they lay eggs.)

I'm thinking that maybe when I finish work I need to go to the lfs and buy a small tank to put it in, and fill it with water from the large tank, or would the change not help matters?

As I said, any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[smilla4]

Funny the local petco has just started selling them, they seem to get them in groups, like other fish, not just one or two. I've noticed now even walmart has clown loaches.

Apparently there's a loach breeding season from oct-mar, yet these are available in numbers outside the breeding season (are they also subject to this breeding season?).

I wonder how these fish are available in mass quantities, especially outside breeding season (if that is accurate), if they're not being bred somehow?

Here are a couple of articles about spawing other loaches, perhaps that will give you a place to start...

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/banks_loaches.html
http://www.solodvds.com/aquarium_fish_magazine/kuhli_loach.asp
http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/kuhli_eggs.html
http://www.loaches.com/loachbreeding.html

It seems from the articles that in general loaches are egg scatterers, and the adults tend to eat the eggs, so you will want to siphon at least some of the eggs out.

 

[krap101]

yeah they may be produced genetically. ya kno cloning or watever. and thats a really cool loach. i wish i had more room for a couple o those . and if i had no fish they would barely be able to fit like 3 of them in my 10. but arent most loaches schooling fish?

 

[AussieGal]

I have 2 of those loaches, and 4 clown loaches. My clown loaches have started doing the "roll over and play dead" game to freak me out lol. I thought they were weird, but turns out its common behavior. They just lay on their sides sometimes until I run over to the tank in a panic, then they swim off (secretly smiling i think!!)

I actually found a loach forum yesterday and got loads of info from them about the one I think is about to lay a batch of eggs. Thanks for the other info too smilla

 

[smilla4]

You're welcome, hopefully it was helpful...

Anyway, post back what happens! Hope it turns out a success!