Skunk loach

[four_by_ken]

I never hear about anyone keeping them.

I picked up (3) of them for $15.  Really tough, active little things.  As soon as I put them in the tank, I was afraid they were going to get eaten.  In fact one was in the mouth of the Livingstoni, but escaped.

They have now established themselves in the tank and are doing very well.  Other than feeding, I dont see them much.  I think this is just because they are so small and are hiding to no be eaten. 

I dont think I have ever seen one much larger than what I have.  From what I know, they get about 5".

Anyone have experience with them?

[linuxrulesusa]

I have one.  It's small, about 2".  It's quite fast.  I keep it wih other loaches (zebra, horseface, kuhli, yoyo) that are all also small. 

I gave one of my original 3 skunk loaches to my friend and he says it quite often comes to the top of the tank and 'talks'.  Apparently in groups they can be quite loud with clicking and chattering of a sort.

Mine loves snails.  I feed it those once a week or every other.  Nutrafin Max or NLS sinking pellets and whatever flake hits the bottom the rest of the time.

A neat little fish.  Said to be a fin nipper but honestly it seems the yoyos do more nipping than the skunk.

[four_by_ken]

I have one.  It's small, about 2".  It's quite fast.  I keep it wih other loaches (zebra, horseface, kuhli, yoyo) that are all also small. 

I gave one of my original 3 skunk loaches to my friend and he says it quite often comes to the top of the tank and 'talks'.  Apparently in groups they can be quite loud with clicking and chattering of a sort.

Mine loves snails.  I feed it those once a week or every other.  Nutrafin Max or NLS sinking pellets and whatever flake hits the bottom the rest of the time.

A neat little fish.  Said to be a fin nipper but honestly it seems the yoyos do more nipping than the skunk.

Havent heard any clicking from ours yet.  They are getting more brave all the time when we feed.

Snails.... how would they eat them?  Where do you get snails for food? 

[linuxrulesusa]

Havent heard any clicking from ours yet.  They are getting more brave all the time when we feed.

Snails.... how would they eat them?  Where do you get snails for food?

Wait for someone to post they're cleaning their tank here on MCA.   

If you have a Petsmart near you, go in and ask for some.  They'll usually save you some.  They get rid of them all the time. 

Be aware that if you choose to get the Malaysian Trumpet Snails (conical shell) they will multiply and multiply and you'll never fully get rid of them until you strip the tank bare and bleach it.  Pond snails are better - the loaches chow them down, suck the snails right out of the shells, so all that ends up in your tank is empty shells, not live snails that become pests.

I keep the snails in my fry tanks (not with wigglers, just with free swimmers) and they don't bother the fry and when I get a decent number after a week or two I grab 15-20 of different sizes and throw them in with the loaches who go wild.

[four_by_ken]

Cool.  I will have to keep that in mind.

Thanks

[LoveTheFishies]

Havent heard any clicking from ours yet.  They are getting more brave all the time when we feed.

Snails.... how would they eat them?  Where do you get snails for food?

Wait for someone to post they're cleaning their tank here on MCA.   

If you have a Petsmart near you, go in and ask for some.  They'll usually save you some.  They get rid of them all the time. 

Be aware that if you choose to get the Malaysian Trumpet Snails (conical shell) they will multiply and multiply and you'll never fully get rid of them until you strip the tank bare and bleach it.  Pond snails are better - the loaches chow them down, suck the snails right out of the shells, so all that ends up in your tank is empty shells, not live snails that become pests.

I keep the snails in my fry tanks (not with wigglers, just with free swimmers) and they don't bother the fry and when I get a decent number after a week or two I grab 15-20 of different sizes and throw them in with the loaches who go wild.

That would make an interesting video. 

[four_by_ken]

They now come out every time we feed and eat with the rest of the fish.

Finally heard the clicking noise.  It was a lot louder than I thought it would be.  Pretty strange.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Ken,   Where did you get your Skunk Loaches ?

[four_by_ken]

Ken,   Where did you get your Skunk Loaches ?

Preuss.

[four_by_ken]

Something cool that is coming out with them... they have two different color fins.  Orange and yellow.

I guess I never looked that close at pictures, because now I see that this is common.  But I just was not aware.

[NsweAandeguk]

 We have had skunk loaches for about 4 months, My fiancee loves smaller fish like her guppies and swords and we got a couple of loaches to put in with them, we hardly ever see them, it seems they will hide most of the time but they are not bothered by the other fish they just love to hide and have even went as far as to burrow themselves into the gravel in the bottom of the tank.

[four_by_ken]

We have had skunk loaches for about 4 months, My fiancee loves smaller fish like her guppies and swords and we got a couple of loaches to put in with them, we hardly ever see them, it seems they will hide most of the time but they are not bothered by the other fish they just love to hide and have even went as far as to burrow themselves into the gravel in the bottom of the tank.

Hmmm... mine never ever hide.  They are always out and about.  They get right in the middle of the action during feeding time also (clicking away like mad).  And this is with an all African tank that is more on the aggressive side... and the fish are growing quite fast too.

I wish they would grow a little faster though... I am afraid the Livingstoni may try to eat one of them again like on the first night I brought them home.

[linuxrulesusa]

I would not be too worried about them - mine hide in the sand when frightened and are very fast.

[four_by_ken]

Funny... I just reread my original post about them hiding... sure are not like that anymore!!!

One did get attacked by the Livingstoni a long time ago... but, I think it flared out its barbs and the Livingstoni didnt like that one bit.

[four_by_ken]

These little guys eat like crazy... but just are not growing much at all.