The loach's 29 gallon tank journal

[Goldfish loach boy]

Oh my glob, these things are so cute!
I was going to add a school of cherry barbs, but I think I'll add these instead!

 

[Jantaris]

Oh my glob, these things are so cute!
I was going to add a school of cherry barbs, but I think I'll add these instead!

Those dwarf puffers are so cool! And they'd do we'll in a community tank? It looks like from the photos they're in with Bolivian rams...?

 

[dragonfisher33]

Those dwarf puffers are so cool! And they'd do we'll in a community tank? It looks like from the photos they're in with Bolivian rams...?

yes, i have them with two different types of loaches, german blue rams, Angelfish, bumblebee gobies, Africa dwarf frog, etc

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Ok, so I'm getting driftwood tomorrow, I thought this looks good because it is hollow, but will it float or is it good for the tank?
Zoo med natural cork rounds

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Or are these better?
Zoo med African mopani wood

 

[Zimmanski]

Go with the mopani. If the other is some kind of cork it'll float forever and deteriorate too. The mopani is widely used in our hobby though

 

[dragonfisher33]

i doubt you're getting the mopanes like the one in the picture since.each piece is unique. what i would do is look around and then try to find a big center piece with a few smaller ones near the bigger one to compliment it. the second mopane looks very good ESPecially when you can stand it up,

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Ok, thanks
I'm going to petsmart tomorrow to buy a climbing wood for my leopard geckos and some mealworms for them, so why not go ahead and buy my driftwood!

 

[dragonfisher33]

just try ti picture how you going to put the DW in your tank while shopping. im sure there's same size tanks in the store and you can always put the woods in those tanks and roughly see how you wanted

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Hah, yea that's what I always do to see how it will come out

 

[Jantaris]

yes, i have them with two different types of loaches, german blue rams, Angelfish, bumblebee gobies, Africa dwarf frog, etc

Thanks for the info. Kiddo wanted one but I told her no as I was unsure it'd fly in our tanks. Our 30g has several gourami, angels and kribs along with danio, and our 20 has rams, betta, oto, and a few platies. I'll have to do some more investigating as they are very cool.

 

[Jantaris]

Or are these better?
Zoo med African mopani wood

I like the look of the mopani. I think either would be fine, though. We have a really big piece of driftwood in our 30. Been there for two months and still needs to be restrained or it'll float to the top.

 

[dragonfisher33]

Thanks for the info. Kiddo wanted one but I told her no as I was unsure it'd fly in our tanks. Our 30g has several gourami, angels and kribs along with danio, and our 20 has rams, betta, oto, and a few platies. I'll have to do some more investigating as they are very cool.

if you want them in the tank, you have to let go of the betta, danio, and platties since they don't swim fast enough to get away from these cute fin nippers.

 

[Jantaris]

if you want them in the tank, you have to let go of the betta, danio, and platties since they don't swim fast enough to get away from these cute fin nippers.

Thanks again. I now have a potential plan...

 

[dragonfisher33]

Thanks again. I now have a potential plan...

just make sure that whatever you put with the puffers are at least twice as big and relatively fast. slow swimmer would be white skirt tetras, something fast would be loaches for instance

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Ok, so I have wanted tiger barbs in my tank, and I rethinks the idea a bit
6 tiger barbs (three albino, three normal)
2 German blue rams
2 angelicus botia
1 bn pleco
5 cherry barbs
1 african spotted leaf fish

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Change
5 tiger barbs
5 neon tetras
1 dwarf gourami
1 angelicus botia
2 German blue rams
1 bn pleco

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Ok, so this is it
6 tiger barbs
1 angelfish
1 angelicus botia
2 German blue rams
1 bn pleco
8 neon tetras

 

[Zimmanski]

That seems like a lot and angels and tiger barbs aren't usually the best of tank mates. Loaches are shoaling fish so groups are best, I know from experience with them they're not as happy alone as in a small group. Why don't you just take your time with your stock list? If you rush it you're more like to be unhappy with the end result. Take it slow, one step at a time, it doesn't have to be done in a day.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Ok, I'm really decided in the group of 6 tiger barbs, 8 neon tetras, 2 German glue rams, and how about 3 angelicus botia?