Shop loaches for sale, from playful clown loaches and yoyo loaches to slender kuhli loaches, cool-water dojo loaches and flat-bodied hillstream loaches. These bottom-dwelling scavengers are social, entertaining and useful, with many species happily eating pest snails. Buy loaches online at Live Fish Store and we ship overnight to your door.
Why buy loaches from Live Fish Store
- Healthy, active fish: selected for good body condition and lively behavior.
- Overnight shipping: live orders ship via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air.
- Live arrival guarantee: every loach is covered from our door to yours.
- Free shipping on $80+: qualifying aquatic-life orders ship free within the USA.
Choosing the right loaches for your tank
Loaches are social fish that should be kept in groups of five or more, where they are bolder and more active. Kuhli loaches and small botia species suit 20 gallon tanks, yoyo and zebra loaches want 30 gallons or more, and clown loaches grow to about a foot long and eventually need 100 gallons or larger. Hillstream loaches need cool, highly oxygenated water with strong flow, and dojo loaches prefer cooler temperatures, while most tropical loaches are happy at 74 to 82°F.
Provide a soft sand substrate, caves and driftwood, and a tight lid because loaches can wriggle out. They are scaleless, so avoid salt and dose medications carefully. Feed sinking wafers, pellets, frozen bloodworms and blanched vegetables; hillstream loaches also graze algae and biofilm. Most loaches are peaceful and good community fish, but they will eat small snails and shrimp.
Shipping and live arrival guarantee
Loaches ship overnight via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air, carefully packed for the trip. If a fish arrives DOA, report it within 2 hours of delivery for store credit or a replacement under our live arrival guarantee. Qualifying aquatic-life orders of $80 or more ship free within the USA.
Frequently asked questions
Are loaches good for beginners?
Kuhli, yoyo and dojo loaches are hardy and beginner-friendly. Clown loaches are hardy too but need a very large tank as they grow.
How many loaches should I keep together?
At least five of the same species. Loaches kept alone tend to hide and may become stressed or nippy.
Do loaches eat snails?
Clown, yoyo, zebra and skunk loaches eat pest snails eagerly. Kuhli and hillstream loaches generally do not.
Popular Loaches
