help with my weather loach

[Camladd]

i have just bought 2 weather loach an they are in with my 4 fncy goldfish, my fancy goldfish are gsoftly sucking the loaches side,, this loach is very pale,,, is he being bullied......also is it true that you need a permit to keep weather loach,,, and do they eat blood worm, any info is helpful thanx

 

[nrich]

What size tank have you got your loach and goldies in? Loaches are scaless fish so they can react badly to toxins in the water. If you put salt in the tank, the weather loach may be reacting badly to that. It is also possible that your goldies are bullying the loach, it might be good to provide several hiding places for them in the tank so they can get away if they want to. Loaches will eat sinking pellets, bloodworms, flake food, and just about any thing else you toss in the tank....their favorite food is snails, though so if you have any in the tank, expect them to start disappearing. Don't know about the permits. In CA they sell them in all the pet stores.

 

[Friedbread]

Loaches of all kinds like slender crevices to hide and play in. Make sure they have some retreats besides just going under the substrate to get away from pesky tank mates.

 

[Camladd]

thanks ive put a few plants and ornaments etc. in,, do you own weather loach because ive been told they should have sand, is this true,, i know all my questions may seem pretty newby lol buh i only jus gt em an i dnt no much bwt em,, my tanks only 50 litres so the pet store told me its enough gfor two loaches ,, cheers

 

[Tony C]

You need a MUCH larger tank, one goldfish would be pushing it in something that small, four goldfish and two loaches are way too much of a load for 50 liters (13 gallons).

 

[nrich]

agreed. Fancy goldfish really need a minimum of about 10 gallons a piece! with four goldies and two loaches you would need at least a 55 gallon tank. I expect your loach is acting poorly because of high concentrations of ammonia in the water.