Black kuhlis...like dwarf weather loaches!

[Jayhawk]

I think this may be my first post in the newishly (if I may coin a word) loach section.

I picked up 3 black kuhli loaches for my 20 long a few weeks back, and man I'm loving these guys. I find them much more diurnal than standard kuhlis (even though I kept groups of 6 when keeping standard kuhlis).

They remind me quite a bit of weather loaches - being out and about so much during the day and rather active at that.

I love these guys and will pick up a few more when older variatus platys and harlequin rasboras pass on from old age.

Anyone else have the same experience with black kuhlis being much more daytime active than standard kuhlis?

Eric

[Lupin]

I did. I haven't seen one that isn't as outgoing as the banded kuhlis. Glad to hear you love them.:)

[Tay690]

I definitely find the same thing...the black kuhli's are out and about all day long
I personally haven't kept the banded kuhli's but everyone was telling me (as well as the LFS owner) that the black kuhli's seem to be out a lot more during the day vs the banded kuhli's

I love how they go nuts after a water change....sometimes you want to just grab them and tell them "Calm down! You'll give yourself a heart attack if you keep up like that!" lol

Great fish

[Jayhawk]

Well, sounds like they're just a more daytime active species. They do go nuts after a water change...and most definitely at feeding time.

Mine don't bury themselves at all (the standard kuhlis I've kept in the past did that from time to time). Then again, my tank is such a tangle of roots, driftwood and live plants - they have plenty of places to hide but they rarely seem to do so.

Eric

[fishorama]

I have striped that are out most of the time but the oblongas I added a few months ago are much more rowdy. They really get wound up, zoom all over, bash into kuhlis & shrimp, especially at feeding & WCs.

[jasonG75]

However if you limit hiding spots ALL are very active. These fish love their hiding spots so lets not take it away from them. I have 4 (1 black and 3 Banded) I rarely see them unless I am feeding them.

[fishorama]

jason, it may be because you have so few of each species. I have many hiding places & plants to hide in, makes them feel secure enough to be out.

[Jayhawk]

I think the more hiding places the better for most fish - I only have 3 black kuhlis, but as I mentioned above...my tank is a tangle of driftwood, plants and plant roots (from water sprite). They're out the vast, vast majority of the time. My black paradise fish (full sized adult) can hide in there and I can't find him and the tank is only a 20 long.

Eric