is a LOACH a CATFISH ?

Sand · Post by **Sand** » 04 Apr 2007, 17:20

I'm SORRY! i just don't understand, is a loach a catfish? what's the difference? I've read some stuff and I still don't understand

i need a person to explain it and not a scientific article. i'm afraid i'm just not smart enough to get it from what i've read thusfar!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 04 Apr 2007, 17:39

The short answer is: NO.

To go into more detail: loaches are not catfish (Siluriformes), they are part of the carp-like fishes (Cypriniformes).

There are some similarities, mostly in behaviour, but the main technical difference is that catfishes don't have scales and loaches have scales (even if they are often small and nearly invisible). Some catfishes [Corys and Plecos] look like they have scales with their scutes (bony plates), but the difference here is that the scutes are under the skin, whilst scales sit on top of the skin.

--
Mats

Sand · Post by **Sand** » 04 Apr 2007, 21:04

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
thank you

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 04 Apr 2007, 23:05

loaches are in the familyu Cobitidae, originating from asia and Europe (in fact my contry houses 3 sepecies, all protected by law, so intouchable)

I can understand your question, in fact I got muy first Botia (horae) thinking it was a Corydoras

, but this was 25 years ago, i was 15.

Sand · Post by **Sand** » 05 Apr 2007, 12:32

well i'm well beyond 15 years old, but i never was strong in anything technical. to me they are fish.
though until my goldfish grew so large that they needed a large tank to themselves, i used to house my loaches and goldys together. they all got along quite well. i kept the tank at 72 degrees F.
this year i'll be getting (hopefully) a 180 gallon acrylic. that way i can keep my 4 goldys & two clown loaches together again. i have a large acrylic tank already and it's so LIGHT weight! if i ever want to move it i can do it myself! with no water in it i can lift it with one hand. heeehee. i have a "SEACLEAR" supposed to be one of the best made. it was worth every penny i paid for it. i've had it for 5 years now.
also the trick to keeping large goldfish with smaller fish is to feed them first, large wafers or food sticks, so that their mouth is full, THEN feed the smaller fish! hahahahahahaha. they now have guppys housed with them and that's how i have to do it so that the guppys can eat. tricky huh!

hahah