Aquarium bottom feeders and loaches
Loaches are a part of the Cobitidae family. Majority loaches have a spine which is called an erectile spine located just below the eyes. Through the course of evolution, the overshot mouth of the loaches enabled them to become bottom feeders. The mouth also allows them to burrow all the way through your tank substrate. The erectile spines are extremely sharp and can cause cuts to your fingers. When handling loaches with hands, take all the care needed as the erectile spines can cause immense damage.
Armored catfishes and the Loaches have a well developed suction cup in their mouth that helps them hold strongly to the rocks and plants even during the high currents. This helps them from not being swept away in the waters. They also have a sensory organ known as Barbels.
Aquarium loaches
We can take care of them in an Aquarium. The most important and primary thing to keep in mind is to add several hiding places. Hiding places are a must, even if it’s just one piece of drift wood. Loaches are night creatures and so, hide all through the day and only come out in the dark. Highly planted places can provide the loaches a nice hiding place. Rocky caves are inexpensive and simultaneously easy to care.
In order to save your aquarium substrate, make use of fine gravel as loaches tend to make a burrow in them. This also prevents them from hurting their mouth.
Loaches are very sensitive to toxins in water. Water alteration with good filtration is surely a must. Loaches of all kinds like a bit of acidic water and presence of PH 6 to about 7.5 or even 8 is good for specifically clown loaches. Medium to somewhat hard water can be used for loaches.
You must do your research on loach compatibility before purchasing. A knowledgeable local retailer should be able to help you. In your aquarium, you can combine only special species of these loaches with a few middle or high level aquarium fishes but not with catfish or other bottom feeders.
Till date, breeding of aquarium loaches has occurred only by chance without any plan. If you try to breed your loaches, you require a book and pen to keep a systemic track of all small and large detail like water temperature, food, etc. PH, water conditions and food would play a part in breeding, but it will mainly be trial and error.
HEY PEOPLE!!! The most popular selling loaches are Kuhli, Clown, Hillstream, Skunk, Yoyo, Dwarf, Weather, Zebra and Blue Botia.
