▷ Siamese sucking loaches & lemon sucking loaches | Info

Data sheet sucking loaches

German name:
sucking loaches

Scientific name:
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

Origin:
South East Asia

Size:
Body length up to 30 cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 120 cm width

Contents:
from 240 liters

water values

Temperature:
22°-28° C

pH:
6 – 8

GH:
2° – 25° dH

Behave

Area:
lower area

Lining:
Omnivores, vegetables (cucumbers), granulated food, frozen food, green fodder, young animals prefer algae plants

Behave:
Lively, willing to swim, aggressive and territorial with age

Number:
Groups of at least 5 animals, older animals also singly or in pairs

Difficulty level:
Beginner

There are 2 types of sucking loaches. The Siamese sucking loach, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, becomes aggressive with age. The other type is said to be more peaceful.

General information about gold sucking loaches

© Lena Balk Fotolia.com

Gold sucking loaches, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, are also called Siamese sucking loaches or lemon sucking loaches. They grow 20 to 30 centimeters tall.

The animals need a lot of floor space to feel comfortable. To do this, she needs a lot of hiding places, e.g. B. cavities and roots. Under no circumstances should more than 2 animals be kept in a 250 liter aquarium.

Up to about 10 centimeters in size, they are peaceful and good algae eaters. They eat algae from gravel, plants and discs. Up to this size they can be socialized with other fish.

With increasing age, they become very aggressive towards other fish species and also conspecifics. They then form a spacious territory that they defend. They lose their function as algae eaters with increasing age. They become lazy about cleaning, especially if they are fed a lot.

Gyrinocheilus aymonieri Source: Image on Wikimedia Commons License: Public domain Author: Pseudogastromyzon

They attach themselves to anything with a reasonably smooth surface. They also suck in other fish, e.g. B. armored catfish. Because they particularly like to attach themselves to fish with large flat spots, they should not be socialized with discus. They literally chase after other fish to suckle on them. This also happens when food is plentiful. The suction can in some circumstances damage the mucous membrane of the affected fish, leading to a bacterial infection.

Sucking loaches are usually incompatible with conspecifics. According to a report, a gold sucking loach in a 160 liter tank terrorized the other residents so much that it had to be handed over. The loach claimed all the caves for itself. She attached herself to other, larger fish.
Older animals are said to be particularly tyrannical.

Apparently, gold sucking loaches sometimes get red dots on the head and black discoloration on the body. It is unclear whether it is a kind of spawning rash or a sign of old age.

Siamese sucking loaches: