Problem with kuhlis

[fishlvr]

The first time I bought one of these cute little guys it died the first night. So, the next day I took it back and the others in the pet store tank were also dead. So I assumed a bad batch, something wrong with the fish. But I brought a water sample to have it checked, all good there.

About a week ago, I returned to the pet store and they had a lot of these guys. Most of them looked really healthy, so I bought 3. Of the 3, one of them hid all the time. The other 2 would come out quite often and check things out. I was beginning to think the third had died in his hiding spot. Today, I wake up and find the 2 dead. :( So, I dipped them out and went looking for the third. I found him, still alive, in his hiding spot.

So I wonder if the 2 adventurous ones were maybe killed by the other inhabitants? I noticed one of my blue gouramis sorta nipping at one, rather curiously, not aggressively. And possibly the third one is still alive due to his timidness and hiding.

Should I get 2 more, still under warranty, if they have any left? If so, I was thinking about putting them in my 20gal neon only tank. I really like these little guys, but I dont want to have to see them die all the time :( Any suggestions?

[fishpoor]

They certainly wouldn't harm your neons. The folks over at loaches.com have been commenting on how hard it has been lately to get healthy kuhlies, so if it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. You might try that site for more information. I love them and usually pick at least one up when I see them
( going on the misassumption that they only count as bioload if you see them) I have found they do much better if you acclimate them very slowly. I'ld try again. Maybe treat them just because for parasites.

[fishlvr]

thanks for that info, I'll check out that site ;)

I took the dead ones back this evening and learned someone else had brought back 2 dead kuhlis... bought the same day I did. They get a shipment in tomorrow, probably the last one for a long time, so I think I'll try one more time.

Assuming the sole surviving kuhli in my 55g is still alive then, should I put the new ones in as well? or try them out in the 20g neon tank? I definately think the stress level would be alot lower in with the neons.

[fishlvr]

I went back yesterday and picked out 4 "healthy" looking kuhlis, aclimated them over the course of an hour and a half, and put them in the 55g with the other.

This afternoon, I lost one :( but I dont know if it was the oldest or one of the 4 I just bought. I can locate 3 others in the tank, they still look ok. The fifth is either dead, or in a really good hiding spot.

All of my water paramaters are well within safe ranges, I guess it's just hit-and-miss with these little guys lately. I have been told kuhlis in my region havent been very healthy for a while.

Hopefully the remaining 4 will live long enough for me to enjoy these delightful little creatures :)

[anonapersona]

You are really putting the rest of your fish at risk by plopping these new fish in there without quarantine.

Can you get a cheap 10 gallon tank and set it up for a month, just a sponge filter and some hiding places, like a small clay pot?

If you can, then you may be able to buy these fish and save them.

[fishlvr]

I have been thinking about a q-tank. Next visit to the pet store I'll check them out. :)

But if they're bad stock, how can I save them? :confused: If this is possible, I'd sure like to know how. :) thanks.

[anonapersona]

Well, big frequent water changes in a bare bottom tank are a good start. A dose of melafix to help any minor surface bacterial problem wont' hurt. Possibly they are suffering from shipping trauma. Let them heal before you put them in a show tank.

Then, let them adjust to your water and your schedule. Be sure they Q tank and the show tank have similar parameters by the end of the Q time, take some water from the show tank to refill the Q tank after water changes in the 5th week.

Then, go to a loach forum and poke around, looking for clues to what the problem is and how it can be treated. They will be sensitive to certain medications and salt, so some things are not good to use.

[MonoSebaelover]

One thing I noticed is at least from the last shipment is you are getting them on the day they arrive. Definitely not a good idea. It is best to let them chill out for a couple of days, let the sick ones die off, and the healthy ones will be left after a few days. Kuhli's have been having a very tought time lately that I have noticed. So in future give them a couple of days to relax after arriving and quarentining. Hope this helps.