Treat the tank with OTC antibacterial treatment. If youve noticed your Dojo acting aggressively, try adding a looser substrate so they can burrow or add more hiding spots. A tank mate to avoid pairing with your Dojo Loach are shrimp. Weather loaches are friendly creatures you can train to take scraps of food right from your hand, and some loach owners report that their fish even enjoy being petted! Sumo Loaches require a powerful aquarium filter with a water flow of 4 to 5 times the tanks volume. Goldfish mainly prefer cooler temperatures from 50-70F and can live at room temperature without a heater. Dojo Loaches do not require an elaborate tank. These small fish prefer the bottom of the tank and do not bother much with other fish around them provided that they have enough tank space. Paradise Fish Tank Mates. Of course, you should avoid keeping aggressive fish with your Dojo loaches. Youll need tank mates that are compatible for the safety of themselves and your loach! Overfeeding can cause health issues, and decomposing food will produce ammonia that will pollute the tank water. Dont miss valuable advices. This can be treated by giving an easy-to-digest diet such as pellet food. They like to be kept with at least six of their own kind, and when this is accomplished, they are peaceful enough. Dojo Loaches can assimilate to various climates but thrive best in colder conditions. Dojo loaches are a frequently forgotten aquarium buddy for axolotls. Plants that can tolerate the cooler temperature of the tank can be great auditions, but rooted plants may be dug up due to the Dojos stubborn nature. Theyre often used to detect food. Dojo loaches look rather like tiny eels, having long bodies with flattened rear ends. They generally stay fairly small but can reach up to 6 inches long if given enough space. White Cloud Minnows Zebra Danio Kuhli Loach Harlequin Rasboras Bichir Rosy Barb Leopard Danios Paradise Fish Gold Spot Dwarf Pleco Comet Goldfish Yoyo Loach Kissing Gourami Tiger Barb Serpae Tetra Panda Cory They are great fish for any tank because they are small and non-predatory, so they will not nip or fight with your Dojos. This post may contain affiliate links and we may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links. Looking into the dimensions of the tank is essential as they will need plenty of room to swim around the bottom of the tank. The fishs exceptional unpretentiousness, calm temperament, and fascinating behavior appeal to aquarists. This omnivorous fish is another example of a fiery, bright tetra to liven up your dojo loachs tank without causing trouble. Diseases can be a common issue found in the Dojo Loach as they are easily susceptible, so keeping pristine tank conditions is essential. Dojo loaches come in their wild coloration, or you might find a gold variant that can add a gorgeous pop of color to your tropical fish tank. It is important to find fish that are not too small and therefore threatened by the loach, but not too large and interested in making the loach a snack. Dojo loaches are bottom dwellers hence they prefer to stay at the bottom hidden. Algae is not a snack Dojo Loaches usually gravitate towards, but they enjoy algae chips. Although changing large amounts of water will dilute the nitrate levels in the water, youre also in danger of removing a bunch of the beneficial bacteria that you need for efficient biofiltration. White Cloud Mountain Minnow: Just like the Zebra Danios, white cloud mountain minnows are also middle and top dwellers. Is Your Betta Fish Having Seizures? Starting with antibiotics is always a good start, as a parasitic infection should be treated as a priority. They are often seen lying out with other animals or chasing them around the aquarium. The Best Dojo Loach Tank Mates include goldfish, barbs, danios, and other types of loaches. Your tank water should have a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5, with a water hardness of 5 to 12 dKH. To keep your Dojo Loach safe, follow these water parameters. Dojo loaches are relatively easy to care for, fun fish that do best in a community tank with pristine, well-oxygenated water and friendly tank mates. Did you enjoy our guide to the fascinating, quirky Dojo loach? Goldfish eat floating flake food, so feeding will not become an issue. That said, these fish are not generally regarded as part of a cleaning crew since the amount of algae they eat is pretty small. The Dojo Loach is a hardy fish that can live in various conditions, like a wide range of temperatures. Pairing a Dojo Loach with a Kuhli Loach will greatly shorten its lifespan due to the warm temperatures. A common issue found in the Dojo Loach is bloating. In the hours before a storm, as the barometric pressure decreases, the fish become highly stressed and run around the tank. Why Isnt My Puppy Eating and What Can I Do About It? White Cloud Minnows make ideal tank mates for Dojo Loaches because they are small and peaceful, and they are hardy and easy to care for. Ideally, your tank should be rectangular rather than tall and be at least 4 feet long. Dojo Loaches can come in a huge variety of colors. These fish are often the first to develop bacterial or fungal infections in a group tank. Although goldfish and Dojo loaches can live together peacefully, you must provide a larger tank. Please do not make the mistakes of keeping these fish in the outside pond because they are well known for escaping. The care routine for Dojo Loach is not that hard, which makes it a popular fish for even beginner aquarists. Some fish are nurturing parents and will protect their fry until they can fend for themselves, but the Dojo Loach is not one of these. Though many people will recommend goldfish as companions, I've sucessfully kept dojo loaches (a breeding pair) in my 125 gallon tank which sits at around 75 degrees. The Dojo loach is an excellent candidate for life in a large community tank with other peaceful, social fish. Bearing in mind that the loaches need a large tank, we recommend using a combination of an external canister filter and an undergravel filter too. The Dojo Loach or most commonly known as Weather and Pond loach has always been a popular freshwater fish for aquarium owners. Since they stay on the bottom of the tank, they would do best in a wider and more shallow tank than a tall tank. They need lower water temperatures in the 65F - 75F range (18C - 24C) which may limit the number of possible tank mates. If this were to happen, Dojo Loaches have a unique ability to survive out of water for a few hours, so more times than not, they will be perfectly fine. Loaches no matter if they are Kuhli loach or Dojo Loach, they suffer from a lot of diseases and special care needs to be taken for them. Not socializing with conspecifics and tank mates, Obvious skin damage, such as sores, ulcers, or red patches, Rubbing against solid objects in the aquarium, Fish tank (minimum size 55 gallons of water), A selection of tropical fish foods, including frozen products. The first tank has two huge fancy goldfish who are almost ten years old and still looking as good as ever. These fishes tend to be housed in groups and will thrive in a tank with only other fish of their own species. The tank mates you choose must be similar in size. Disassemble your filter system every couple of weeks and rinse the filter media in tank water to remove any material that might prevent water from flowing freely through the unit. They typically have long bodies, so theyll match your snakelike dojo loach without posing any food-stealing threat or being aggressive. A serpae tetra is mainly peaceful, as long as it has its own school of friends to hang out with. They are active and energetic fish, making them a joy to observe in your aquarium, especially when kept in small schools. The parameters of a dojo loach are a tank that is at least 55 gallons in size, first. The Dojo Loach is a wonderful addition to any cool water community tank because of its peaceful nature. It is a species that resembles an eel slightly and prefers cold water. Fish that are too aggressive or violent will stress a dojo loach out. They will eat whatever food comes their way in the water. 15 Best Dojo Loach Tank Mates Time to jump right into the tank mates that work best with dojo loaches! Dojo loaches have a totally cool behavior that never ceases to fascinate their owners. They can become aggressive with smaller fish if they become hungry. Ideally, your tank should be rectangular rather than tall and be at least 4 feet long. Ideally, you want to use lots of driftwood, smooth stones, twisted roots, and caves where the fish can hide and explore. This will encourage them to start reproducing. Though they can survive in a wide temperature range, they thrive best in a tank temperature of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 15 to 25 degrees Celcius. If their numbers are too low, they can begin to act rather strangely, including possible aggression. These fish are visually striking but easy to care for, and you will hardly see them moving except at night when they tend to be more active. Prior to becoming Editor-in-Chief of It's a Fish Thing, Lindsey studied marine biology at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Lindsey discovered her passion for fish keeping after a junior high school field trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Lets begin! Quarantine affected loaches and treat the tank with antifungal medication. WebOther than water temperature Dojo Loaches are not extremely sensitive to the water chemistry of their tank. They can make great tank mates for a variety of fish, including Dojos. Hence, today our guide will focus on everything you need to know about dojo loaches including care, breeding, tank setup, and everything else. The Dojo Loach is a nocturnal fish that is most active at night and usually rests during the day. Paradise Fish (Macropodus opercularis), 10. Read this guide on Dojo loach care to learn everything you need to know about these remarkable weather forecasters! Although these fish are relatively small at around 3 inches long, they need a large aquarium of at least 55 US gallons (46 UK gallons) to be comfortable.. Dojo loaches can grow to around 8 inches in length or more The Dojo Loach should be kept in cool water temperatures with a pH level of slightly acidic to slightly alkaline to live a healthy life span. Treat the fish tank with an OTC antiparasitic medication. Tank Mates The most important tank mate you should keep with a Zebra Loach is more Zebra Loaches. In this article, we look at 10 of our favorites. Weather loaches tend to hang out at the bottom of their habitat. It is native to Asian waters from Japan to Korea, China, and Vietnam. Note that Dojo loaches cannot live in brackish conditions. Theyre easy to keep safe thanks to their hardiness, even if you dont have a lot of fish-keeping experience. When a larger group of fish is present, these fish become very social and playful. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A part of the joy of owning a home aquarium is watching several species of fish swim and coexist, so youll want to add a few tank mates for your Dojo Loach. These loaches are lively fish that are most active at night, scavenging on the substrate for morsels of leftover food, digging, or burrowing in the substrate. Other than water temperature, Dojo Loaches are not extremely sensitive to the water chemistry of their tank. When it comes to water conditions, these fish are extremely tolerant. This is because theyre too big for the little paradise fish to cause them any harm and they wont start fights either. White spots appear on the skin of loaches, which must be handled right away. Raise the water temperature to 82o F for three days. So, I think you would be best upscaling your tank as the loaches grow bigger. Dojo Loach is a freshwater fish with some unusual characteristics. Goldfish are among the easiest aquarium fish to care for and among the most placid, making them ideal tank mates for your Dojo. To encourage your fishes to burrow, youll need a smooth, muddy substrate; gravel and other coarse substrates will stress your fish out because it wont be able to hide and show its natural behaviors. Changes in water temperature can cause fish to become stressed, which can lead to a variety of diseases. As previously mentioned, these lively fish can jump, so ensure your tank has a cover slide or a tight-fitting lid to prevent accidents during tank maintenance. These fish prefer a dimly lit environment, so we recommend choosing a lighting unit that you can adjust to suit your fish and planting. However, aquarists have reported that their fish are too active and nip at fins. Paradise fish, much like paradise birds, are brightly colored, sometimes in a vibrant pattern of orange and iridescent blue with bright orange eyes. Weather loaches tend to hang out at the bottom of their habitat. These fish prefer to live in groups of three or more rather than being kept in isolation. These fish are bottom dwellers, so selecting food that can sink to the bottom is the best choice. Caused by internal parasites, causing weight loss even though the fishs appetite is normal. They are adaptable fish that can live in various aquarium conditions, but they prefer to live in small schools of at least four or five. This is because of their ability to sense changes in barometric pressure before a storm. In the wild, they eat only organic matter including algae. Seasonal shifts in the wild are simulated in this way. They are rarely aggressive, making them ideal Dojo tank mates. This fish is quite hardy as it can live in cold or tropical water aquariums. Dojo Loaches are very prone to skinny disease. They can survive in water temperatures that would make most fish nervous, giving you a lot of leeways. Filtration and oxygenation are also very relevant. Leopard danios are peaceful and would cause no trouble, but they are active and fun to watch. While zebra danios are hardy, they will still need enough room to swim and engage in schooling behaviors. Their scales are often smaller and narrower, providing less protection. Find the Best Aquarium Equipment Aquarium Heater | Aquarium Filter | Aquarium Light Keep in mind that Yoyo Loaches grow up to 5-6 inches long. Once your Dojo has reached sexual maturity beginning the breeding process will take months of preparation as you must simulate their natural conditions in the tank. Many home aquarists avoid attempting it because the conditions are too difficult to meet. They have a similar-looking head to other breeds of loaches. They are easy to care for, making them great for beginners, and they are endlessly fascinating to watch. Dojo loaches are usually assumed to be a tropical fish species rather than cold water fish. They eat both meat and veggies, being omnivores, but wont compete with your loaches at the bottom of the tank. Dojo Loaches, also known as Weather Loaches or Pond Loaches, are unique fish to have in a home aquarium. Dojo Loach is a freshwater fish with some unusual characteristics. The small eggs may soon become a meal to your Dojo if not removed. WebThe Dojo Loach is a wonderful addition to any cool water community tank because of its peaceful nature. Increase the water temperature to 82o F for three days, and dose the water with Ich treatment. Required fields are marked *. Corys, tetras, and even gouramis, as well as other loaches, are all great peaceful options. WebSumo Loaches are opportunistic feeders that will eat everything from insects to algae. Learn more. Since the medications required for loaches are nearly half of those required for other animals, this must be taken into account when handling them. Dojo loaches are ideally suited to life in a community tank, being peaceful in nature and getting along well with most other species. Moreover, they also love to eat fish eggs which can be a problem if you are keeping them in the breeding tank. They are fairly tolerant of a wide range of water parameters and can happily live in water temperatures between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 degrees Fahrenheit is preferable, with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Its essential to separate the adults from the larvae, whether you scheduled the spawning or not. Several smaller barbels can also be found just below the eyes. Dojo loach tank mates One of the most important things to consider when getting a dojo loach is that while they are peaceful fish that will get along with tropical fish, they will not thrive in the temperatures that those same fish require. Dojo Loach. Every week, we suggest routine testing and a 30 percent water improvement. Zebra Danios: The zebra danio is a quiteactive mid and upper dwellerwho thrives in water temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. WebSumo Loaches are opportunistic feeders that will eat everything from insects to algae. Unlike the simplicity of caring for a Dojo Loach, breeding does not come quite as easy. Although Dojo Loachescan tolerate a wide range of temperatures, they thrive in a temperature range of 58 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Would a schedule of 40%-50% water changes every week be okay without ever having to upgrading to a new tank? Dojo loaches can grow to around 6 inches long and need a minimum tank size of 55 gallons to be comfortable. They need lower water temperatures in the 65F - 75F range (18C - 24C) which may limit the number of possible tank mates. WebKeep tank mates that can live in the same conditions as goldfish. The Dojo Loach reaches sexual maturity between two and three years old. It would be best if you continued feeding the fries until they are adults. They favor small, slow-moving streams, rice paddies, ponds, and marshes. However, theyll need a lot of space and well-kept conditions if you actually wish to see them grow in such a huge length. Alison P. 5 Reasons Why & What to Do, Goldfish Growth: Average Size & How Big They Can Get. The female will usually lay up to 50 eggs at a time. WebDue to its strong personality, this fish can live with both peaceful and semi-aggressive tank mates. Green peas are a favorite of the loaches, but they must be skinned before being placed in the aquarium. Plastic decorations are fine as long as they are large enough to accommodate the fish. The Dojo Loach should be kept in cool water temperatures with a pH level of slightly acidic to slightly alkaline to live a healthy life span. When thinking about potential tank mates try to choose some fish that prefer the middle and top levels of the tank. 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