How Many Bottom Dwellers?

[Matt]

Hi everyone.
I have a 4ft tank with 4 Clown Loaches and 4 small BN catfish. My wife likes Kuli Laoches and I have been eyeing off a Red Tail Shark for a while now, my question is: How many bottom dwellers can I have in the one tank?

[GoGuppy]

Hi everyone.
I have a 4ft tank with 4 Clown Loaches and 4 small BN catfish. My wife likes Kuli Laoches and I have been eyeing off a Red Tail Shark for a while now, my question is: How many bottom dwellers can I have in the one tank?[/b]
G'day Matt
Not sure, the usual measures for stocking density levels relate to all fish types, not just the bottom dwellers. I assume it should not make much difference, as most estimations for stocking density are based on surface area (that is water to air interface) of the tank, as this is where the oxygen in the water comes from. IMO, as long as your fish have enough oxygen in the water, it probably doesn't matter too much where they hang out. :rolleyes:
Your stocking level would be around 125cm to 200cm of fish body length, depending on filtration method, level of maintenance, water changes undertaken, and so on.
I would build up the numbers of bottom dwellers slowly and see how you go. Obviously, if they need to fight for a free spot of bottom area, you've gone too far... :ohmy: !!
Good luck and let us know how you go.
Cheers

[Bundy]

Stay away from the Red Tails :ohmy:

I bought 2 which soon became one, then it took out my two clown loaches & couple of gourami's.

It may have just been one bad guy but I've heard other similar stories about them too.

[wombat1100]

Ditto on the Red Tails , Danger Danger Danger lol
they are just killers!

[Matt]

Damn, I've read that a single Red Tail would be ok, oh well. What about Rainbow Sharks? Same deal?

[Jaz]

Damn, I've read that a single Red Tail would be ok, oh well. What about Rainbow Sharks? Same deal?[/b]

I've been fine with one Rainbow (red tail and fins) and it's in with a silver shark that's bigger than it, a couple of ?blue corys (not sure of name) and four clown loaches and they're fine.

Having said that I recently added an extra juvenile silver shark, smaller than the rainbow and it killed it in 18 hours.

If I were you, have one only at the max, but I'm really going away from territorial and aggressive fish. It also ate any tetras I added.

[Jaz]

Well after I added another silver shark to try to give my existing one a mate and choosing a moderately mature fish, I found it lasted 20 hours instead.

[matt_Frontosa]

Hi mate good choices for the loaches I would not go for red tail sharks as they mite take out everything in the tank maybe get some pakistani loaches or other different catfish

anyway good luck on the choice mate

any always cheack your water parameters before you add more new fish mate