Dojo loaches, popularly known as pond loaches or weather loaches, are interesting omnivorous freshwater fish native to Eastern Asia. They got their ‘weather loach’ name from their ability to predict a storm. They display the warning signs through their body language. You will notice their increased swimming activity, and they might even jump and splash around. The Dojo loach are nocturnal, thus more active during the night and restful the entire day. They are very hardy and grow so fast and are therefore a perfect option for beginner fish keepers.
Dojo loaches are super-fascinating fish to have in your home aquarium. Caring for them is a breeze as they have uncomplicated tank requirements. You can add a few tank mates to make your aquarium more fun. This article gives a detailed guide on the best Dojo loach tank mates to add to your fish tank and how to set up the aquarium for them.
Dojo loaches are popular among beginner and expert fish keepers because caring for them is super-easy, but can they cohabitate with other fish?
Dojo loaches are very peaceful fish. They stay out in the open when they are comfortable ad hide when they are threatened. When in a larger group, Dojo loaches are playful and social. They are also friendly with humans. If you feed them well and take good care of them, they will get used to you and allow you to touch them or feed them by hand.
Dojo loaches love to explore the tank, and they have a high activity level. Occasionally, you will see them trying to jump out of the tank, and you might find one or two on the floor. Whenever this happens, just re-introduce them to the tank but ensure your tank is well secured. The best thing about Dojo loaches is that they can use atmospheric oxygen to stay alive outside water.
You can keep one Dojo loach in your tank, but experts advise against it. The fish are very social and do best when in a group of 3 or more. They can also thrive in community tanks because of their peaceful nature. You will notice them exhibiting signs of socialization with other non-aggressive fish in a community tank like laying out or playfully chasing them around the tank.
When considering tank partners for your Dojo loaches, go for fish that occupy other parts of the aquarium.
Dojo loaches are bottom dwellers, so non-aggressive upper and middle dwellers would do.
If you are in the market for Dojo loaches and have no idea where to get some, check out Quinn’s fins Dojo loaches. They are about 4 to 6 inches long, non-aggressive, and the absolute cleaners for your tank.
Here are a few things to consider when setting up an aquarium for Dojo loaches.
When setting up a permanent home for your Dojo loaches, be sure to consider their size when fully grown. You must look into the dimensions of the fish tank as the fish will need plenty of room to move around at the bottom. A 10-gallon or 20-gallon fish tank may only do for a while as Dojo loaches grow up to a foot-long in length. A 40-gallons or larger fish tank can comfortably accommodate your Loaches. If you are going to add upper dwelling tank partners, you must consider the loaches’ height.
Also, because of their high activity level and playful nature, consider getting a fish tank with a tight lid to prevent them from jumping out.
Dojo loaches are native to Eastern Asia in countries like Japan, China, Vietnam, and Korea. They are also found in Russia and can thrive in streams, ponds, small lakes, and any other shallow bodies of water.
Their availability in so many areas of the world is already an indicator that Dojo loaches are tolerant to different water conditions. They can thrive in very cold water better than other freshwater species. Although they are hardy, you should provide a conducive environment for your Dojo loaches. Experts recommend a water temperature of 50 degrees F to 82 degrees F, water hardness of 5 to 12dKH, and pH levels of 6.5 to 8.0.
What’s more, you have to ensure the water in the aquarium is clean and fresh. Invest in the best fish tank filter to keep the water clean and conducive enough for your Dojo Loaches.
As mentioned before, Dojo loaches don’t have a lot of tank requirements. They don’t even need elaborate tank decorations, but you can add a few hiding spots. They love to slither under the sand, so fill up the bottom of the tank with a very soft substrate like smooth pebbles or very fine sandy substrate. Anything rough can cut them and cause infections or damage their delicate soft scaled skin.
You can use plants that can tolerate the cooler temperatures of the aquarium. Avoid rooted plants as the Dojo loaches can dig them up, remember they have a stubborn nature. You can opt for aquatic mosses or ferns that will cling to decorations in the tank or driftwood, which will be a good hiding spot.
The Majoywoo natural driftwood remains the most popular driftwood among fish keepers because it is incredibly affordable, durable, and suitable for aquariums of different styles and sizes.
Since Dojo loaches are a peaceful species, choosing tank mates for them is pretty easy. They only become aggressive towards smaller fish when they are hungry. Although they do not exhibit a schooling nature, Trusted Source The answer lies in the fish genome, suggesting that complex social behavior in other animals, including humans, is also genetically ingrained www.scientificamerican.com you should have Dojo loaches in a group of 3 or more because of their social nature.
Since Dojo loaches can get aggressive towards smaller fish when they are hungry, the best tank partners for them would be the not too small or the not too large peaceful fish. Here are some of the best tank mates for Dojo loaches;
The Bichir are not that popular because they are a bit challenging to care for. Expert fish keepers love them because they have a long lifespan and are very hardy. Bichir can happily survive in brackish water. If you are looking for an interesting addition to your aquarium, Bichir should be your top consideration. They are a unique-looking fish with a reptile-like appearance and large dorsal fins. What’s more, they are carnivorous, but Dojo loaches are too large for them to eat. The thing that makes Bichir a little hard to care for is that they have to access the top of the aquarium to breathe oxygen.
| Size | 11-23 in |
| Tank size | 40 gal |
| Food | Carnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful most of the time |
Goldfish are a popular species among fish keepers because they are pretty, placid and one of the easiest fish to care for. They will be a beautiful addition to your community aquarium and very great company for your Dojo loaches because they are non-aggressive. Goldfish are small and they stay small, but if you give them adequate space they can grow up to 6 inches. They are the ultimate tank mate for Dojo loaches because they thrive at the same temperature and they are upper dwellers. Also, they like to feed on the flakes at the top of the tank, so feeding would never be an issue.
| Size | 1-6 in |
| Tank size | 20 gal |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful |
A Gold spot dwarf deco is a welcome addition to any community tank because of its docile personality. The fish keeps to itself and remains calm. You will barely see it move until nighttime when it becomes active. It is also one of the best fish to get if you want a visually striking addition to your community tank. The Gold spot dwarf pleco is easy to care for and is one of the most docile species in existence. However, it can get territorial with other catfish. You can avoid having them together with catfish.
| Size | 1-2 in |
| Tank size | 10 gal |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful |
The Harlequin Rasbora is a famous species in the pet trade. It is also known as red rasbora and it is a beautiful fish with metallic colors. If you would love a striking addition to your community aquarium this should be among your prime options. The Harlequin rasbora are peaceful schooling fish that can get very stressed if kept in small groups. You have to keep at least 8 or 10 of them. On the bright side, they are small and non-predatory which makes them ideal company for Dojo loaches.
| Size | 1-2 in |
| Tank size | 10 gal |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful |
These are also popularly known as Leopard loaches. They are an eel-like peaceful, docile and shy fish that make the perfect tank mate for the Dojo loaches. They are nocturnal and they prefer to stay near the bottom parts of the aquarium. They come out to play at night and are restful during the day. Kuhli loaches enjoy the company of other loaches. You can add 3 or 4 of them to your aquarium. The only issue with Kuhli loaches is that they need to live in
tropical temperatures
Trusted Source
What Is The Ideal Water Temperature For Your Fish Tank?
For all species of fish, there is a middle ground in which they are happiest, and they must be kept within that range for their optimum health and survival
www.aquamacs.co.uk
, which can shorten the lifespan of Dojo loaches.
| Size | 3-5 in |
| Tank size | 15 gal |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful |
Leopard Danios are like distant cousins with the Zebra Danios. Instead of the stripes that Zebra danios have, they have spots. They are also a top favorite for freshwater aquarium keepers because they are peaceful and they make fantastic tank mates for a wide range of fish species. Besides being attractive, leopard danios are a joy to observe in your aquarium because they are active and energetic.
| Size | 1-2 in |
| Tank size | 10 gal |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful |
Paradise fish would also be a beautiful addition to your community aquarium. They are easy to care for and very active. They make great tank partners for Dojo loaches because they are small. Although they have a reputation for aggression, paradise fish can be kept with bigger fish. It’s only their males that get aggressive when competing in the same school. You can avoid keeping the males together if you want peace in your tank.
| Size | 2-3 in |
| Tank size | 20 gal |
| Food | Omnivorous and carnivorous |
| Temper | Peaceful most of the time |
White cloud minnows are small and peaceful and just like Dojo loaches, they are hardy and super-easy to care for. They are bottom dwellers and they do not bother other fish around them as long as they have enough space to move around. They prefer to live in small groups and you must therefore introduce at least 3 or 5 of them to the tank. Keep in mind that white cloud minnows require adequate tank space, otherwise they can become aggressive.
| Size | 1-2 in |
| Tank size | 10 gal |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful |
Zebra Danios, also known as Zebrafish are one of the most popular freshwater species preferred by fish keepers because they are easy to care for. They are hardly aggressive and highly adaptable, thus ideal Dojo loaches tank partners. Although they can live in virtually any aquarium conditions, they thrive in schools of at least 4 or 5. If they are too few, they behave strangely and can even get aggressive. Since they are upper dwellers, they’ll be out of your Dojo loaches’ way.
| Size | 1-2 in |
| Tank size | 10 gal |
| Food | Omnivore |
| Temper | Peaceful |
Finding Dojo loach tank mates is not a challenge at all because the fish are peaceful and docile, thus can cohabitate with a wide range of fish species. They only get aggressive towards small fish when they are hungry. Since they stick to the bottom of the fish tank, any middle or upper dwellers that aren’t too small or too large can be successfully kept with Dojo loaches. When it comes to choosing tank partners for your Dojos, you are spoilt for choice.
Our list has the 10 most suitable options. If your tank is large enough to comfortably accommodate the fish you are introducing up to their full growth and you are caring for the Dojo’s well, they will keep you company for as long as a decade.
