What corydoras would be best with Tiger Loaches?

[AlaskanCorydoras]

I recently picked up 5 Botia hymenophysa before doing my full research on them. Turns out the buggers get aggressive when they're older. What I'm wondering is if any Corydoras do well with more aggressive fish? How about plecos? Fortunately I have 5 tanks and can keep the loaches away from my more timid fish until I come up with a tank with suitable mates. I'm also open to suggestions for suitable mates. . .

[Birger]

I really like these fish but they do come with their own set of concerns.

Are these not now Syncrossus hymenophysa, not only aggresive but getting fairly large as well, I do not think I would put any cories in with them...I would think any other catfish would get hassled by them as well as they use the same space unless you have a real large tank. Some of the worst battles I have seen were between cats and loaches competing for the same space(not in my tanks)
Fast swimming medium to larger Barbs would be a good addition.

Birger

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/sy ... ymenophysa

[MatsP]

I would agree with Birger. Keeping different genera that compete for the same food and living quarters is rarely a good thing. One or another will have the competitive edge - either by being more outgoing/forward when it comes to feeding time, or having bigger/badder "weapons" (the spines near the eye that some loaches have comes to mind).

--
Mats

[AlaskanCorydoras]

Really depends on the dietary needs. . . I have two tanks with yoyos and clown loaches respectively, and they get along well with the cories in the tanks. The Yoyos play with the Pandas in their tank, and the clownies with the Brochis in my 90 gallon. The loaches generally eat at the top of the tank, and the cories will push them out of the way at the bottom. 'course my clowns are quite small still. . .

But yeah, when I get my aggressive tank up and running I suppose I could live with cories. . .

[Richard B]

IME clown loach are fairly easy going, but i have had some bad experiences with tiger loach. They can be quite belligerent & do use eye-spines as weapons when quarrelling with, synos, for example.

Personally i wouldn't mix them with corys as i would have a greater flow & water movement in a tank with the tigers & if things go wrong, corys will easily suffer.

I have lept a single tiger loach with assorted cats (mostly african & asian) without problem but when loach numbers increased the nature of them totally changed for the worst.

If you want to mix these with cats, i'd go for a biotype

[Dave Rinaldo]

From this post

I would avoid putting any of the Botia type Loaches with Corys, they compete for food in the same areas of the tank and are often quite aggressive towards anything that comes into their domain.

They are also well equipped to cause damage to other competing tank mates with their sickle shaped bony blades that they have situated in groves beneath their eyes. These blades are very sharp and can be locked at a 90 angle to the body forming impressive weapons.

Ian