Loaches can be pretty good at hiding. They could be in a crevice between the
rocks, behind filter intakes, under other decorations, or even buried in the
gravel. I suspected that my loaches had died several times, only to find
them swimming around a few days later.

Or they could have jumped out, or a large fish could have eaten them.

I would assume they are hiding until you haven't seen them for a few weeks.

Limnophile

"Ninereeds" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

bear with me as I am a beginner to cichlids.

We have a 6' x 18"(h) x 14"(d) tank with about 45 gallons in it. It
has been running with fish now for about 6 weeks.

My wife bought a variey of fish from several shops and we now have:

1 x 6cm Electric yellow (Labidochromis Caeruleus)
1 x 7cm Convict (Cryptoheros Nigrofasciatum)
1 x 5cm Convict
1 x 6cm Hornet (Pseudotropheus Crabro)
2 x 4cm Pseudotropheus Acei
2 x 4.5cm Silver Dollar (Metynnis Hypsauchen)
1 x 6cm "flameback" (Haplochromis I think, although it originally
looked more like a Protomelas Similis)

And we DID have (until recently) 2 x 4cm (1.5") Botia Macrocanthus!

But one morning, we didn't. I have looked all around the tank on the
floor, no sign of them having jumped out - there is a couple of spots
where they could have. Neither have we ever seen them being atacked by
any of the other fish.

THe other fish have been pretty well behaved. No one seems to be
unduly picking on anybody else.

So, does anyone think that any of the above are likely culprits? I
mean BOTH loaches disapeared, and unless they have somehow BOTH gotten
traped in a crevice we can't see - at the same time - I can only
conclude they were eaten.

Any clues welcomed!

TIA,

Ninereeds