Weather Loach
Fish Profile

Weather Loaches are beautiful fish that are fun and interesting to watch. They are sleek, smooth, and definitely fast when they want to be. These fish have a reputation for trying to escape from aquariums, although I have never experienced this in my aquariums, I have seen the strength and power of these fish and consider them fully capable of such jumping episodes. These fish eat almost any kind of food I put into the aquarium. All kinds of food are on the menu, from shrimp pellets to lettuce. Loaches seem to prefer eating from the bottom of the tank, however they occasionally swim to the surface of the water to grab some food. Weather Loaches are also known as Dojo Loaches. The name Weather Loach comes from their sensitivity to barometric changes.

What they eat: Shrimp pellets are a favorite. Algae wafers are good because they sink to the bottom. Betta pellets also fall to the bottom before other fish get a chance to catch them first, so these can be good. Lettuce secured under a rock, or floating at the top is regarded as a tasty treat and regular fish flakes that sink to the bottom of the tank are not refused.

Where they like to be: These fish appreciate small spaces, they like lots of hiding places so make sure you have some kind of hide out for them because they tend to stress out when this is not available. A PVC pipe has worked well in my aquarium. If you are worried about the looks of it, consider covering it with stones. Decorations such as drift wood or small houses in the aquarium would provide good hiding places as well.

Who they like to be with: Weather Loaches seem to be fairly laid back fish. They get along well with mollies, small tetras, guppies, and even some larger tetras, as well as dwarf garamis. Fish such as silver dollars tent to pick on the Loaches. This is not an ideal situation, but if you decide that you must have the two species together, be sure to have plenty of hiding places for the Loaches.

How many to buy: It is very important to buy at least two of these fish. When these fish are alone they seem to become very stressed and swim in unusual patterns and refuse food. So, remember to buy at least a pair of these fish.

Size: Weather Loaches can grow to about six inches. Even though these fish are bottom feeders it is important to count these inches when determining how many fish can fit into your aquarium. Over crowding can cause many problems in your tank, but don�t worry, these problems are easily avoided, just be sure you know how many fish you can safely keep in your aquarium. For more information check out the Tropical Fish Care section of this site.