I have a 55 gallon tank with 1 queen loach (inherited when i got the tank from my mom), 3 zebra loaches (to try to keep the queen company bc i can't find queens), and 4 plecos (2 bristlenoses, 1 albino bristle, 1 clown), some guppies and cardinal tetras and a male betta (i've always had them in community tanks w/o issue)...
Anyways, I was feeding today and spotted some baby bristles!!!!! They're about a half inch or so long, maybe 3/4". They mostly stay in caves (i have a lot and driftwood) but have started exploring. I didn't even think I had a male b/c none of mine have much for bristles (they're about 2 inches long, I only got them a few months ago at local, reputable LFS).
So my concern. The crevice most of the babies are hiding in seems to be guarded by one of my bristlenoses, at least (s)he is hanging out nearby. The other plecos have all moved to the other side of the tank. But one zebra loach keeps chiling in with the babies, closer than the pleco! Do you think it's curious? hungry? confused and thinks they're baby loaches? I do have a ten gallon i could move the loaches to, but i'm reluctant to. It is small for them, and my queen just started acting like a fish again after the years of torment with my mom. At the size the babies are, do I even need to worry about this any more? There are at least a dozen in there, spread through the various caves, sometimes cleaning the walls.
Thanks!
Teni
