Sorry to hear of the loss of your loaches and Shrimp. In The wild the Loaches are found in fast flowing streams with a high dissolved oxygen content, water temperature is generally between 20 to 24 centigrade, and an alkaline ph. As far as i'am aware all fish offered for sale are wild collected, it's probable that the parameters in your tank have not suited the loaches. I kept a small group of four fish roughly five years ago and tried to replicate a biotope aquarium, with regard to the specific requirements of the loaches. The last of the group died last year.
Hi Alex, you are right. I think got to do with water temperature rather than pH. My LFS had them in an air-conditioned room and hence water temperature was below 28C while my tank is at ambient temperature around 28C.
These guys are really eye-catching... but sadly, they not suited for my tank.