Okay, let's talk Panda Loaches - Controversy, History & Care For The Cutest Nano Fish Species

[@seangamboa3453]

I was looking for a video about panda loaches and was like, "I recognize that voice." Nice. Love AG Podcast

[@Fishtory]

Oh right on! Good memory, my friend

[@aquariumplantman]

Really beautiful loach, I have not seen available here in Australia

[@bronxhousekennels1]

Thank you for the video. I really appreciate the information.

[@Fishtory]

Glad it was helpful! Its my pleasure

[@syndicitten]

thank you so much for making this video! i’ve been thinking of adding some panda loaches to my tank and now that i’m aware of the ethical concerns ill definitely attempt to breed them to keep up the population :)

[@Fishtory]

Awesome. They're very hard to breed...with most people/myself included -only getting 1 to 3 fry at a time (if ever)...very clean water, with lots of air and it should be moving (plus rounded or smooth rocks with algae on them)...however now that ive owned them 3 years, i also know that they only spawn in the winter /spring and having the water go from 75% full and slow to 100% full and a powerhead or oversized filter outflow, seems to help cause them to mate. Ive seen mine spawn many many times, however eggs hatching has only happened once for me or anyone i know....but we should all keep trying haha

[@Constantine_Cvl8]

@@Fishtory ah, so they're a good fit for hillstream loach aquariums?

[@PotooBurd]

This is so informative! Great job, fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝 Keep it up 🙌

[@codyshowalter583]

Awesome little fish, I have a group in my tank and love them. And great account of the history and about what's happening with this fish. I live in China and bought some online, tried my best to source them from a responsible dealer.

[@Fishtory]

very cool, Im fascinated by the " Golden Triangle" aka Shan and all the fish in and around it. For so long its had so much violence or just rugged conditions that we seem to be finding more nano species every month there

[@codyshowalter583]

Same here man, in that tank I've got almost 20 CPDs, and 7 emerald green rasboras. Love the fish that are coming out of there. I'll be traveling around SE Asia this winter, looking forward to getting to explore and learn more about the region

[@Fishtory]

thats a very similar tank to mine. i have 2 tiny baby leopard frog plecos, (1/2 inch or so) 3 multistriped loaches, an otocinctlus, 3 young panda garras anddddd 7 axelrodi metalic blue rasporas. it's over crowded for a 17.5 gallon, however theres tons of plants, its a seasoned tank biologically, and i have a 75 gallon HOB on it for flow and aeration. oh and 50 shrimp or so lol... yeahhh as i list all this im deciding whos moving when haha

[@AquariumCop]

I do love this fish, better yet I love how you go above and beyond with their information. Enjoyed in full this informative video. I do love this 17 gallon. Thank you for your research and time to inform the fish keeping community . ✌💞

[@Fishtory]

thank you my friend! Cheers!

[@AquariumCop]

@@Fishtory 💞

[@kroegermarkus1170]

Thank you for making the loach problem come to our attention.

[@angelahamrick9131]

This video helped me decide against getting a panda loach. Perhaps one day I’ll have a setup that better simulates a mountain stream and has room for 5 or 6 loaches, but until then I’ll just keep my shrimp, medaka, and killifish happy. 👍

[@Fishtory]

Thank YOU!!! This makes me really glad to hear. YOU ARE A GREAT FISHKEEPER! To look into the care and background of a fish, and not just impulse purchase a species, only to learn you can't care for it, is so incredibly common. Thanks for stopping by and watching! Take care and best wishes to you and your fish

[@smittens888]

This is brilliant. I immediately fell in love with these fish when I saw them at my lfs...but was concerned once I did some reading on them. I really appreciate the video. I don't have a tank suitable for them yet but they are a big goal for me now. Thanks

[@Fishtory]

awesome, I'm glad you enjoy the content and also glad you know your limits :)

[@InternacionalBoxing]

Here today because i bought one and yes i have a Panda Garra as well. They are very underrated in the Cleaning department 💯

[@Fishtory]

Totally. Welcome to the channel 🙏

[@philthytanks4952]

Great video! I got mine with the idea that I would breed them. I work at a fish store so I was able to get mine around $7-8 so that was nice as well. They’re such an awesome little fish, I hope they get the proper protection they need

[@suejudith2009]

Newer to your channel and already love it and find it quite informative and entertaining! This tank with the panda loach is my favorite. Maybe one day I will find a list of all the plants in that tank ❤️

[@Fishtory]

hey there, ....and welcome! we have a Facebook group and if you ask on there, ill usually post lists and extra content just like a species list :) ....but if youd like to know a specific set of plants in the video, tell me what time in the video and where in the frame that they appear, and i can tell you, gladly. Thank you so much for watching. cheers!

[@bdmenne]

Great content. New subscriber now. And FYI, that line at the end is The Best, because it is a truism: “If you listened/watched this far, to this point, you know you want to [subscribe]”. Even the tone was spot on. 👍🔥

[@Fishtory]

Thank you kindly for watching and subscribing, my (new) friend! Feel free to jump in on the facebook group with your own pics or questions also...or check out one of the 400+ other videos ive made. Have a great day!

[@johnmanrow2667]

This is an amazing looking fish! You definitely have my attention and interest in acquiring some of these.

[@Fishtory]

You should! But theyre stupid expensive most places

[@applescratchcandy]

Omg - you didn't show the release!! 😔

[@noea.6140]

I got a group for 18 dollars, they are amazing. I might get 2 more

[@Fishtory]

Oh hell yes... id buy them in a heartbeat

[@DashDrones]

​@@Fishtoryjust paid €100 for five, very pleased!

[@ryangoodheart2438]

Thank you for the information just got 4 off them £10 per fish gorgeous looking fish

[@Fishtory]

That's a pretty fair price!

[@thefishylife6823]

I just got a group of berdmorei loaches and leave been researching alot about loaches kinda cool to come across this video ,I was really surprised by the low temperatures these guys like and to learn about clown loaches reclassification... I really hope we get more loaches in the hobby particularly the zipper loach which I don't believe have been imported yet.... really cool panda loaches I love this planted hillstream!

[@Fishtory]

Thank you! Yes. I agree we need more small loaches in the hobby, theyre useful cleaners too...the larger ones are kind of bullies sometimes, or rather just sort of push their way into everywhere for food, but smaller species are great. same with ruffa garra and panda garra. Also im curious if the multistripe dwarf loaches (which i have 7 of in my tank downstairs) is reclassified, they almost look like danios

[@thefishylife6823]

@@Fishtory I know they have reclassified alot of loaches and botias ! It gets really confusing to me I have been researching for weeks and it's surprising but kinda not ,how much info you find that conflicts what you read somewhere else, LoL! Either way loaches and botias are incredible to keep in a Aquarium their intelligence for a fish is remarkable!! Hey buddy good luck with the breeding experiment, I hope you are able to do it!!!

[@danielgally6389]

A local store is selling small juvenile for like$6 so tempted to put them in my plant growth tank but there's not enough flow. I guess I could put them in a 20 long with a huge filter

[@Fishtory]

Juveniles are fine as long as they have oxygen (more than flow)

[@BiGRaLpH02]

I've bought mines for $5 each a couple of months ago. I do have an appreciation for them as they are pretty active and interesting to watch, i do plan on breeding them. Thanks for sharing the politics in regards to this loach.

[@mrsmagik1680]

BiGRaLpH02 that’s not bad my LFS has them for 21 a pop

[@uniquascaper7052]

You might want to add a little garlic to their diet to clear gut parasites (if you make your own food). If I had some of these little guys I would convert a planted 20g shrimp tank to a species-only hillstream tank. It has a mattenfilter and all I would have to do is add a bigger powerhead (with the air tube open for more O2), and some river rocks to the bed of volcanic mineral sand that I collect locally in our mountains- proper mineralization might be a key. Also, seasonal temperature and light shifts. There is a lot to think about and study here. I successfully spawned Iriatherina werneri multiple times in the 80's (when they were first imported to our market) I would love to give these guys a shot.

[@aungkyawzin1240]

Your tank is beautiful

[@Fishtory]

Why thank you! You may also enjoy my larger community tanks, one was posted in a before and after trimming the aquascape video. It's about 10 or 15 videos ago

[@koringalvao9458]

I was hoping too see you release them into their new beautiful home!

[@msresearchspeaks]

I love those little Loaches. Thank you for the education regarding these fish. I have Hillstreams breeding. I think I want to breed as well.

[@j-ace3106]

Hello I have a quick question, I was wondering if dwarf gouramis or neon tetras would eat baby Panda loaches?

[@Fishtory]

They haven't in my experience ...maybe male dwarf gouramis might...but if raised in captivity, like most are...and not fed live moving food daily...they probably will ignore the loaches

[@aquaticOdyssey]

What's your opinion on keeping these guys in a heavily planted Walstad? No filter but the water column is decently clean and clear. I'm currently using a surface skimmer just for flow, which I can turn up.

[@Fishtory]

If the tds is low and you add an air stone or have flow that breaks the surface tension (to allow aeration and o2 in the water column) then yes, it would workout fine I think

[@da_hobbie7674]

Would you recommend a super red bristlenose, panda garra or an Otto cat to help out with Algie on a well stabling tank?

[@Fishtory]

I think the bristlenose would eat scraps of food and dead plants, which in theory can reduce algae from being started...but the Otto is your best bet at actually eating it and not needing a meet additive in fish food form...meaning their poo is far less pollution for algae to thrive on

[@travissmith399]

I aquired 2 today and after watching I'm getting more. I believe like as a zoo if low numbers we all should help grow numbers vs oh I'm not getting them because they are indangered.

[@Fishtory]

Yeah people are breeding them with bubble tea straws as vertical oriented caves now.. someone figured out that they mate upright i guess lol

[@narayan1369]

Nice tank. Is the iron low? I noticed some plants tips are only red

[@Fishtory]

Yeah, good call. It does tend to be low, due to the low tds in general

[@shesellsfish]

Panda garras and panda loaches fascinate me, but I am not going to get any unless or until I can keep them in groups and try to breed them. As you said in this video and others, it is a responsibility that you should be willing to take on when you keep fish from regions where their natural habbitat is being polluted and may be destroyed altogether.

[@Fishtory]

That is really admirable of you. Thank you for sharing this again. I was tempted to just get 3 in a nano tank at first, however now after more research and reflection, I decided to use the money from superchats that didnt go to food and electricity for fishies, that id save and buy another batch for my adults in the old group of 3 (it was 6 however 3 died early on as fry during the import QT and from parasites) . So now with meds and some knowledge, We will try a group of 10 (its super hard to find good info for these fish.)

[@flebflimpson9082]

The 2015 "Eartheaters" issue of Amazonas magazine has an article on the captive breeding of panda loaches from a German fishkeeper. It may be worth the 10$ to order a backissue and check it out yourself!

[@Fishtory]

Oooo yeah, id love to find a copy, thanks for the heads up

[@flebflimpson9082]

@@Fishtory www.amazonasmagazine.com/product/amazonas-mar-apr-2015-eartheaters/ Here you go! It's in the "aquatic notebook" section. I was able to find a picture of the first part of the article but unfortunately it's too low resolution to read. Hope this helps, these awesome little fish need as much info about them around as possible :)

[@StanTheObserver-lo8rx]

Any problems with Garra jumping out?..looks like an uncovered tank.

[@Fishtory]

Ive never seen it, but they will climb the outflow of my hang off the back to eat algae...and i leave it all slimey, just for them

[@robbiebatdorf8333]

Can you give us an update once moved to their tank to help us see if we can even accommodate these Pandas? I would love to keep these but wouldn't want it to end up bad.

[@Fishtory]

Yes totally. Ive kept them previously and half died honestly...so they are fidgety and can be difficult depending on your water conditions. So I'll really try and show any of my attempts. Apparently the Czechs may be breeding them (horemone induced im guessing, otherwise they only spawn once a year).

[@jimariz5529]

Very cool fish, hope they breed for you when they mature.

[@Fishtory]

Thank you kindly, it has been a really tricky mystery to breed them in any numbers... I have a theory that mixing them with other related fish spawning, such as small loaches, will release hormones that may induce spawning... they have artificially used their own hormones in a lab to breed them, but obviously i cant do anything that complex at home

[@jimariz5529]

That's very interesting, your theory sounds very plausible. I can't wait to see.

[@ADHDAquatics]

I just searched for some panda loaches with the intention of buying a pack of 6 or more and breeding them. All the websites I found say they are out of stock but were at 1 point listed as 19.99-24.99 each. Is there a way I can try to track some down to help conserve them by breeding them?

[@Fishtory]

Usually they come in stock 2x a year....once as adults (fall) and once as babies (spring). So keep you'd eyes peeled and I will also!

[@ADHDAquatics]

@@Fishtory okay that's good information! I never would have thought of that

[@ronniewilkes8190]

Hi, can panda loach live with hanging filter? Because i don’t have oxygen pump

[@Fishtory]

Yes, just keep up with your water changes :)

[@maltahighjacker9842]

Would they go well with dwarf neon gobies?

[@Fishtory]

Perfectly

[@maltahighjacker9842]

@@Fishtory thanks I was thinking maybe adding these guys to my 20 gallon long asain bio type tank if I get them them to breed ill come back to this comment!

[@Fishtory]

@@maltahighjacker9842 the gobys need salt water, but the loaches in theory could breed :)

[@pullbackbaby]

We need to create environments on small scales similar to the original habitat perhaps in the south areas of the country. This is getting serious and very sad. Hopefully new habitats can be created for those animals that live in places of ignorance and aggressive growth and pollution.

[@Fishtory]

100%

[@philipperoy4079]

Thanks for the video! I wanted to know what they are because I got 4 included for free in addition to a guppy purchase (I live in China).

[@Fishtory]

Awesome! That's an amazing deal...they are sold for up to 45 USD $ in the USA some times.... although its usually closer to 15 or 20$

[@philipperoy4079]

@@Fishtory eh! Good point, but guppies like warmer water and I don't have crazy currents in the tank as it's quite fully planted and don't want things flying all over. Anyhow, now I'll sit and hope they survive and do ok... Interesting but on the history btw, they are definitely not as high valued here in Shanghai.

[@geoffwilliams2103]

I live in Hong Kong and we got this street called "Gold Fish Market/Street" literally you can find bags on bags on bags of Panda loaches and all types of of marine life there

[@geoffwilliams2103]

@PaccoLazyGuy actually 3 shops. 2 of them sells them already bagged and once infant of Mcd's sells them from an aquarium along with red crystal shrimps

[@WaterWizard1]

Hi Alex, love the panda loaches. Have them in my coldwater tank. I had contact with a German breder of these. They need cristal clear water and temperature should not be above 22 degrees Celsius. Thanks 🌱🐠✌🏼️

[@shavinmccrotch9435]

Your word for today is hydrodynamic, as opposed to aerodynamic. Panda loaches are very hydrodynamic. 😉 Not to be overly corrective. It’s just a fun word.

[@jamestrebillcock4718]

I'm hydrophobic, I'm opposed to hydrodynamacy

[@jessehunter362]

@@jamestrebillcock4718 Ironically hydrophobia is extremely useful for hydrodynamic organisms! you see it a lot in plants

[@uninvestigated]

Are those danios in your tank as well? Are you heated?

[@Fishtory]

Not currently heated... 70-74 usually as it's summer here...but yes theyre celestial pearl danios

[@oliversantesson6148]

They look adorable, would definitly try to breed them if I could find them. Are they similar size to Rosy loach?

[@Fishtory]

yes a tiny bit larger, and less shy if you have 5 or more... if you have 4 or less, you'll never see them

[@Fishtory]

scratch that comment...a bit smaller than rosie loaches... I was thinking of my multi bar dwarf loaches ...which I love and actually have gotten to spawn

[@laszlotresanszki7262]

So what type of water do you keep them in.. you use ro water.. if so remineralize it to what? Gh kh ph tds. tap water?. How often to do water changes? What do you feed them and how often. Have you ever used that medicine you mentioned to trat them.. I only now of two suppliers that resell them and I don't believe either treat them for paracites. Is that a common medication that I'd be able to find at a lfs. And how would you know they have a paracitic problem? Lastly you said you move them over to other tanks, what size tank. Thanks

[@laszlotresanszki7262]

Actually love this species as well and have bought them to breed as well but they always dwindled away slowly over time.. probably not enough flow in the tank as well as not clean enough water.. never had enough info to keep them successfully. Love the vid and the info ty

[@Fishtory]

I have tap water with a TDS of 28, but i have some crushed coral and a few tablespoons of crushed limestone. I know metronitizol (spelling is probably slightly off), is good for parasites and some worm type issues which are super common in all loaches. You can't tell for sure, but if they are staying skinny, the black stripes are dull or they are sluggish rather than frisky- that's when I decide to treat. ive also used erythromycin and API general cure and ich x on them in the past with no issues. just make sure the tank is at least 6 months or so old, that rocks have a slime coat and bit of algea even. I'll likely move them to a 20 long with a 75 gallon filter on modified to aerate more than normal (sponge or comb in the flow) and use a tank that has more fine sand, smooth rocks and little circle areas of wood or rock overhangs. thanks for watching and i hope you enjoy my work and videos. Have a great weekend my friend

[@laszlotresanszki7262]

Great tips and advice, thank you

[@barryscottfujiwara]

hi, nice vid , have u breed them yet?

[@Fishtory]

1 baby survived...other than that no...just a few fry that died in a few weeks sadly

[@barryscottfujiwara]

@@Fishtory hope u could breed them, i have 10pcs in my community tank, all juviniles

[@Fishtory]

@@barryscottfujiwara they need higgghly oxygenated water and rocks with lots of biofilm and a little algea to rear the spawn. Also seemingly 68 to 70 is the spawn trigger temp + lowering tds

[@radiationshepherd]

I think their adult pattern is way cuter tbh

[@Fishtory]

I can understand that, for sure

[@CaylorsReptilesAquatics]

Ive tried to keep Bumble Bee Gobies with little luck. These might be an alternative. Thanks Alex

[@Fishtory]

ive never had the bumblebees but i wanted some recently. So far ive gotten some from aquaticarts.com and those 2 have been with me since my about 2 weeks after i got the very first group of 4 locally. they all lived in a shrimp tank, however one climbed out and died on the rim sadly (over a rimmed plastic tank). a week later 2 others died very skinny. So i treated them with metronitizol (sp?) and boom that was it. So now im learning that everyone i get outside of aquatic arts needs to be treated for parasites, being that in the wild they have way more food and parasites still kill them, but slower and usually at a year old from a report my buddy found, that was written in Chinese by the Dayaoshan park fish scientist on duty for a survey in 2004

[@Fishtory]

Also if i had more tank space...theyd only be living with other panda loaches and perhaps some shrimp. Im already realizing my panda garra pups are pushy towards them in this tank

[@koringalvao9458]

them as adults also reminded me of bumblebee gobies, I think their temperament is definitely more peaceful than them though! the bumblebees seems to have little guy tuff guy syndrome!😂

[@JolliBliss]

Do they eat baby shrimps?

[@Fishtory]

Nada

[@travisstreeter5092]

Can u breed them....

[@Fishtory]

Yes but its hard and rare to hear of

[@fastfolky]

Incredable, panda loaches cost 6 bucks here in The Netherlands, I guess they breed them some place nearby. Probably in germany or somewhere in east europe.

[@Fishtory]

so good to hear...thats wholesale price here

[@armchairwarrior963]

wow they are cute!

[@Fishtory]

Ssssuuupppeerr

[@J9XXL]

I just picked up 2 from my shop in Northern California. My first jumped out a couple days ago, then I went back for two more. They’re small but don’t have the bands anymore. But they were $15/ea. 😭

[@Fishtory]

Oh bummer. Ive never had mine jump at all...but i really love them even as adults...my newer videos show my 2 and 3 year old panda loaches...in fact my most recent livestream does

[@n8gnarlyanimalcollection782]

So have you got them to breed ?

[@anthny6912]

Hey i know im super late on this but what and how many of each species do you have stocked in this tank

[@Fishtory]

About 11 hah... nitrates stay at 0 due to soooo many plants

[@timpekarek9159]

As I watch this video on fish breeding, pop up ads for caviar are appearing!

[@Fishtory]

Hahahaa what? Really? That is excellent

[@Jwack67]

Boy Alex I sure hope you're monetized. I had legit like 8 ads in this video

[@Fishtory]

Yeah they delayed my monetization 8 months beyond when i should have qualified...but this is an old video and the crappy part is i didn't put ads in it... youtube just ran them by default...and i apologize. I have it set up so that any monetized video of mine, shouldn't have more than 1 (30 second ...or 2-15 seconds it looks like lately?) Ads per 20 minutes, anything in between or extra in the middle is really frustrating and it's KZbin's old default for nonmonetized videos during 2017/18 . My apologies

[@Fishtory]

That is to say, i didnt not turn on monetization on old videos, but KZbin applied some old default and even still i don't get any money from those early ones anyhow. Grrrr lol

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

cool

[@noamchertock9840]

I’m having trouble with algae in my tank, any help?

[@Fishtory]

not substantially unless you had like 30. which would be epic...and very pricey

[@UpperAquatics]

For the algorithm!

[@awhatzable]

Nowhere to be found in my city, even online

[@jtiso2395]

Too bad you didn't show them being released

[@alecthenice8115]

Its human nature to take the other groups stuff. Don't hate the player...

[@Fishtory]

True

[@Stifodne]

My LFS has em for 24$ each🫠

[@Its_Thanatos_YT]

This video didn't age well