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Sumo loaches, anyone have experiences with them, keep them?
I purchased one bout' 6 months ago, hes doing awsome! just moved him to my 80gal.. hes taken to the flat rock formations I have, rather than the driftwood. Turns out well for Ive 2 large Clown loaches that prefer the driftwood..so no fussing over territory there..
Yah so just fill in some blanks for me, are they better in pairs/groups.? any known success with breeding, or how too?
thanks all
Sue

photo room I'll post some pix of the tank shortly after this..if you'd like to have a look

[link=SUMO LOACH]
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/schistura-balteata/?searchterm=sumo%20loach[/link]

This is the info from that link there is also more info there for you.


Schistura balteata
by Martin Thoene — last modified Jan 18, 2008 12:30 AM
Summary

Scientific name: Schistura balteata (Rendahl, 1948)

Common name: Tri Band Sumo Loach

Synonyms: Nemacheilus balteatus

Distribution: Malwedaung, in Tenasserim, Myanmar.

Sexual Dimorphism: Unknown. Mature males are said to have 'puffed cheeks' when viewed head-on. Mature females likely to have a much rounder abdomen.

Maximum size: 10cm (4".

Similar to: Schistura cf balteata, Schistura sp. aff paucifasciata, Schistura paucifasciata, Schistura cincticauda.

Care: As with other species of Schistura, this is a territorial species that should be provided with numerous hiding places amongst bogwood, plants, rocky caves and cobbles. When keeping more than one specimen it is important to create visual barriers between each hiding place. Although quite a shy species, it can be nippy towards it's own kind (or other Nemacheiline loaches) when defending its territory.

Ideally, these loaches should be provided with brook/hillstream aquarium conditions incorporating a high flow rate and well oxygenated water - please see Hillstream Loaches: The Specialists at Life in the Fast Lane for a more detailed explanation.

Dither fish such as some species of Danio, Rasbora, Barb, and Tetra make good candidates for tankmates. Will not bother 'sucker-belly' type hillstream loach species.

Feeding: Will eagerly accept most aquarium fare offered - sinking catfish pellets, flake, frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, brineshrimp, daphnia etc.

Water parameters: pH: 6-7.5, Hardness: soft and slightly acidic is best. Max dh: 12.

Temperature: 73ºF to 79ºF (23-26°C)

Breeding: Unknown

Notes

Distinguished from any other Schistura species by its usual unique markings consisting of 2-3 thin vertical dark bars below dorsal fin. Some specimens appear to 'lose' these vertical bars with age/maturity (it is not clear whether this is a sexual difference) and others can quite dramatically change color depending on mood or aggression.

There are regional variations in color also, and sometimes the vertical bars may be red.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith









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Keith's link is broken. Try this one. Points you to the same info.

EDIT: Hmm, it's one of the hillstream loaches. Likes cooler than average temps (around 74 degrees F should suit it fine) and fast flowing, well oxygenated water. Not a fish you can keep easily with swamp dwellers such as gouramis, because they prefer warmer temps and slow currents.

That fish is well worth devoting a species tank to. Make the tank long and shallow, and drive the filtration system with good, strong beefy motors. I'd run with a gravel substrate, particle size about 4mm, and pop in thickets of Vallisneria for plant life, because they're crown-rooted and adapt well to simulated river conditions. If you try putting Cabomba in the type of aquarium I'm thinking of, it'll end up in bits in less than 24 hours because the current will batter it to smithereens! You could also try Ludwigia as a plant for that setup once it's developed a decent root system if you want some variety. Pop in some bogwood arches to give the fish plenty of caves, and that way you'll help break up lines of sight to avoid territorial disputes when they're in the mood for them.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002