Kuhli loach naughtiness

[OrionGirl]

In my planted 40, I have three kuhli's--2 solids, and one striped. About a 2 months ago, I noticed that my solids had built a tunnel in the base of a plant--one with a dense root mass, so easily tunneled. I was a bit suspicious of what they might be up to in there, but minded my business and never thought about it again.

Then, at the last water change, I picked up a chunk of driftwood to clean beneath it, and was rewarded with a nest of the little buggers! Think there was at least 8-9 of the little guys--about 1 inch long, maybe 1/8 inch in diameter. Shocked the heck out of me. Now I'm concerned that the ones in my small tank here at work (a group of 5 stripers) may be up to the same thing.

Now I just wish I'd paid more attention so I could document what brought this on--I can't deal with too many more fish in that tank!

[Synapse]

Well all my congradulation to you,
breeding those little loaches is said
to be really rare in captivity. I would
surely like to see this happen with mine.

cheers,

[stik6shift98]

that is sweeeeeeet:D

[125gJoe]

I also heard they were tough to breed. Good for you!! Your water must be perfect for them! Can you get some pics of them?

[OrionGirl]

I can't even get a reliable count on the buggers--they are fast, and the babies only come out briefly for feeding. I'll see what I can do.

[anonapersona]

Now, come on! Tell us everything! What sort of water parameters do you have? What sort of gravel was that? What sort of things do you feed them?

I just found some kuhlies and added 5 to a tetra tank. I don't know much about them just yet and really didn't plan to get them until the new tank was bought and stable but I saw them, so I got them.

So, I'm really interested in what it takes to make them happy.

[Stephen]

Congrats OrionGirl. I'm hoping to get that lucky. I'd also like to know what the water conditions are and what and how often you're feeding them.

[OrionGirl]

pH = 7.3
Hardness is mediocre (9/3), temp is around 78. Not heavily planted, but the plants are well established with a thick root bed. I think this is important, since I suspect they dug a tunnel into the root bed, using the roots to hold up the walls/roof. I feed every other day, a mixture of algae tabs, frozen community formula, blood worms, brine shrimp and scallops. I don't match water temps when I do water changes--water going in is about 60-65. Weekly changes of about 25-30%. Several pieces of wood, smaller gravel substrate, UGF with an AC 300 with sponges only.

This pair has been in the tank for well over a year. The parents were 2 of 3 I bought as buddies for a striped kuhli I've had for 3+ years (his companions passed on in a previous tank). They are about 2 inches long, and a bit bigger in diameter than a smiley ( :D ). The striped is much longer and fatter, so I think size must vary with the species.

This is my normal routine. Other than being a bit suspicious when I noted the tunnel they'd built at the base of the rotala, I can't recall anything unusual or different that I've done. About 2 months before this, I increased the protien I was feeding--instead of just blood worms, I added the scallops and chopped fish mix.

Wish I could be specific, and KNOW what brought this on.

[Faramir]

You lucky thing!

Khulis are notorious for refusing to breed except when they want to. You should write up your experience and send it to one of the mags - I'm pretty sure they'd publish it.

It's a shame you didn't get to see the eggs - apparently they're bright green.

[anonapersona]

Are there any other fish in this tank? I'm speculating that the eggs could be laid under cover and thus escape becoming a caviar breakfast for the neighbors.

anona, off to create a cave for the kuhlis.

[OrionGirl]

Lots of other fish--a rainbow shark, 5 turquoise rainbows, neons, blue tetras, 4 ancistrus plecos, a butterfly pleco, a chocolate pleco, 4 gouramies, an algae eater, a pair of dwarf puffers...Several amano shrimp...Not sure if I missed anyone? Wups, a foursome of cories as well.

The gouramies have since been moved to their own tank, and the others will be split up soon. I was shocked, simply because the tank is overstocked--I figured there would be too many spying neighbors around to permit breeding from any of the fish! I suspect that in the absence of so many voyeurs looking for a snack, a cave would be acceptable instead of the tunnel mine built. Guess they REALLY wanted to have a new generation, eh?

[kuhli]

Didja know that a butterlfy pleco is not really a pleco it's a hillstream loach:)



Originally posted by OrionGirl
Lots of other fish--a rainbow shark, 5 turquoise rainbows, neons, blue tetras, 4 ancistrus plecos, a butterfly pleco, a chocolate pleco, 4 gouramies, an algae eater, a pair of dwarf puffers...Several amano shrimp...Not sure if I missed anyone? Wups, a foursome of cories as well.

The gouramies have since been moved to their own tank, and the others will be split up soon. I was shocked, simply because the tank is overstocked--I figured there would be too many spying neighbors around to permit breeding from any of the fish! I suspect that in the absence of so many voyeurs looking for a snack, a cave would be acceptable instead of the tunnel mine built. Guess they REALLY wanted to have a new generation, eh?

[OrionGirl]

Actually, it's not even that. It's a pulcher L168 ( http://www.planetcatfish.com/core/index.htm) . My LFS persists in calling them butterfly plecos, so the name sticks in my mind. They actually call the hillstream loaches CHINESE butterfly loaches, for whatever reason. I always forget to specify with my kid--he tends to be the shy fish of the tank. I know where he hides, but otherwise never see him.

[VoodooChild]

Kudos to you Orion! My little kulhi has been through hell and back (twice) and I love the little guy. The only fish I have with a name (Andy). Whenever I lift up the rock at my LFS to net one, it's just a mass swirl of brown and orange. I'd like to see what it looks like 1/4 the size! Weird though about the pulcher. Pseudogastromyzon myersi is also called the butterfly loach and hillstream loach, also the Borneo sucker. Latin names should be a standard class for every kid in junior high!:p

[OrionGirl]

Just an update for those who are interested. The kuhli loach breeding was not a fluke--they've done this before--and I think they will do it again...

I have to admit, I apparently haven't been paying very much attention to this tank. Thought I had--I regularly watch the tank, and do counts of all the fish. Of course, when I hit the expected number, I quit looking. Big mistake!

Cleaned the tank again today. Found there are at least three age classes in there--the original adults, at least 5 sub-adults that are about 2/3 the length of the adults, and at least 3 babies, that are no more than 3/4 of an inch.

I suspect that the babies spend a great deal of time buried. I am going to try watching the tank late at night with a red light, to see if the babies will come out for me then. I tried taking a pic today, but the light is such that only one small corner of the tank lacks glare.

[anonapersona]

Well, I've added a flat bit of driftwood that they can burrow under.

What sort of diet?

[OrionGirl]

I feed a mix of Watley's community formula, blood worms, and Aqua Yum's mixture (scallops, brine, mussel mix), in addition to algae tabs, sinking carnivore pellets, frozen zucchini, and a mix of flakes. I feed the frozen foods, tabs and flake every other day, and they get 3or 4 half inch slices of zucchini once a week. I've seen the kuhlis go after everything except the flakes.

I do think that when they freak out, and go charging around the tank like mad cories that it might be part of courting. I've seen this behavior from only one of the adults, and it always comes to a rest in front of it's mate afterwards.