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Skunk Loaches-My Biggest Mistake Yet!

9K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  chrissyfisherkeeper 
#1 ·
Well, I started keeping my second batch of skunk loaches only last Wednesday thinking they'll be alright in my community tank. I wanted each and every one of the loaches the chance to thrive in the community. While I do realize that they can be aggressive and may not be suitable for community tanks, I never realized it would reach to the point of killing their tankmates one by one. The last time I kept them was 6 years ago and these ones aren't exactly as aggressive as the ones I currently have. I had casted doubts when I was surprised to see one yoyo loach missing. My hunch became true when I saw most skunks driving my clowns out of their hideouts. Adding to my fears is the fact that I saw another dead yoyo with its gill cover left with a rather deep bite, the size of the skunks' mouths. I was horrified that these skunks turned out to be completely aggressive. They have been moved to one of my tanks and that will be considered a species only exclusively for them. I will not consider mixing any more fish with them. I lost 2 yoyos, 1 very small skunk and 1 Kerri tetra to the aggressive skunks. Most of the fish suffered fin damage including my gold rams. Do note that all these deaths have been linked to the skunks because all these troubles started the moment I added the skunks to my tank. I never knew the skunks, despite being a little under 2 inches in size, would be quite vicious up to the extent of even shredding their tankmates to pieces. Their first targets were those smaller than them. While it is fortunate that I had removed them in time before more grisly killings happen, it is very unfortunate that I lost two very young yoyos from them.:shake:

As of today after the skunks have been removed yesterday, no more loaches have gone missing. I counted every one of them and all are intact and happily foraging the bottom.

Would I suspect the yoyo loaches? A thousand times no. Not even my 5-inches yoyo named Delta. I've kept them before and I never see them harassing other fish. Would I suspect my clowns? Not even a single no. Clowns are quite peaceful and I have never had any past records of a single one harassing its tankmates to death. I would not even suspect the kubotais. They are still on the road to recovery from being under stress and skinny state.

On another note, I do realize some people have kept skunk loaches successfully in the communities and I do as well before but this thread has been created only to give warning to future loach enthusiasts to be very careful in selecting the loaches of their choices. This thread has been created to share my experiences about these wee vicious loaches. Never again will I get these loaches, not even if they become rarely available. The remaining ones have been provided their own tank. I won't plan to put any more fish with them in the same tank. It's far too risky on my part. I really regret I bought them thinking I can give them a chance to live in my community.
 
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#4 ·
and another one falls to the lure of Skunk loaches or 'the spawn of Satan' as I call them. :lol:

they are most defiantly not a community fish, as you have discovered
but I will happily take then from you if you are near me.

if you wish to keep them I suggest that you either have a species only set up, with at least 10 or house them with other loaches that are equally nasty like those from the same group.

Know collectivly as the sun group they are Yasuhikotakia caudipunctata, Y.eos, Y.lecontei, Y.longidorsalis, Y.modesta, Y.morleti (skunks) & Y.splendida or those from the tiger group of loaches. Syncrossus helodes, S.hymenophysa, S.reversa, S.berdmorei & S.beauforti.

I have found that the only other fish that can successfully be kept with skunks are giant danio, malabar danio, moustached danio, elegant rasbora and dwarf snakehead.

you maybe surprised at the last one and although my SH is almost adult sized and has a mouth plenty big enough to swallow my skunks whole he leaves them well alone and more to the point they steer well clear of him
 
#5 ·
The-Wolf said:
and another one falls to the lure of Skunk loaches or 'the spawn of Satan' as I call them. :lol:
How humiliating.:sob: :lol:
they are most defiantly not a community fish, as you have discovered
I knew that but I had thought I'll give it a shot considering I had successfully kept a previous batch in a community before with little problems.
but I will happily take then from you if you are near me.
Unfortunately, I don't live in UK.;)
if you wish to keep them I suggest that you either have a species only set up, with at least 10 or house them with other loaches that are equally nasty like those from the same group.
Amazing how we think along the lines.:lol: I'm happy to keep them although they will remain isolated from the rest of my fish unless I get another fish that is able to defend itself from their vicious nature. Currently, I'm eyeing another tank large enough to accommodate the skunks together with several loaches on the same level as them.
Know collectivly as the sun group they are Yasuhikotakia caudipunctata, Y.eos, Y.lecontei, Y.longidorsalis, Y.modesta, Y.morleti (skunks) & Y.splendida or those from the tiger group of loaches. Syncrossus helodes, S.hymenophysa, S.reversa, S.berdmorei & S.beauforti.
Yep. I have known all these loaches to be on the same level as the skunks'.;) Loaches can be quite tempting and I find myself falling very easily for these loaches.:? :cry:
I have found that the only other fish that can successfully be kept with skunks are giant danio, malabar danio, moustached danio, elegant rasbora and dwarf snakehead.
Ditto. I've kept a previous batch of skunks with several danios before.
 
#6 ·
By the way, Wolfy, I have seen in another site your Syncrossus pics.;) I'm interested to see more pics of your loaches. Can you please post them in FW Pictures and Videos?:p I really would love to see more of your loaches.
 
#7 ·
#8 ·
Wolf,
Have you ever tried Skunk Loaches and Tiger Barbs?

I've had the thought of doing a 55 or 75 with a shoal of about 7 skunks and a School of 8 to 12 Tiger Barbs.

Figure it might work, or am I just asking for dead barbs?
 
#9 ·
tophat665 said:
Wolf,
Have you ever tried Skunk Loaches and Tiger Barbs?

I've had the thought of doing a 55 or 75 with a shoal of about 7 skunks and a School of 8 to 12 Tiger Barbs.

Figure it might work, or am I just asking for dead barbs?
This should actually work considering your tank is large enough to allow the tiger barbs to escape should the skunks try to chase them. But tiger barbs occupy the higher levels anyway compared to the peaceful botiine loaches. There's a loach enthusiast who keeps barbs in his tank where there are modestas, lecontei, eos, some aggressive schisturas and skunks in it. His barbs are mostly the filament barbs.
 
#11 ·
My skunks are hooligans but they seem to be doing fine in the com tank for now. I'll eventually move them into a skunk only tank.

As far as fish go, yes, these fish are the antichrist. I've had them hide in my UGF before I took it out of the tank. I've had another try to swim up the filter.
 
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