Cool- Kuhli has eggs in her!

[Wycco]

Well that was a surprise... one of my new Kuhlis seems to be full of eggs. She seems to have spontaneously developed them just days after being released into the community tank- I saw her swim into one of the lighted areas- and on the underneath of her I noticed what looked like darkish greenish eggs inside her.

I don't want to raise my hopes for nothing- I know breeding Kuhlis is quite rare- so is this just something they do from time to time- gain eggs and then lose them? Or, assuming one of the three other Kuhlis is male, could I have fertilised eggs on my hands?

(yes, only have 4 - wish I had more... I think I read once they only breed when in large numbers usually)

So now I'm stuck with a dilemna- leave them and hope for the best- or seperate them so I can save the eggs.

One things for sure- if I leave them and the eggs fall- if I can spot them I'll try rescuing the eggs. What time of day do they typically spawn... I know Kuhli are normally called nocturnal- but mine seem to be out all hours of day- although I have noticed they're more active when the lights are off.

What's the best food for baby Kuhlis? Will Micro worms work?

 

[Kuhlifan]

Very little is known about their spawning habits, but yes, it is common for them to produce eggs. It's just rare that anything comes from it. Think of it sort of like humans - females produce eggs once a month, but they have to be fertilized to do anything. The female kuhlis will produce eggs, but nobody knows the triggers to cause the males to actually decide to fertilize them.

Kuhlis come from environments where there are lots of dead leaves and detritus on the substrate. Basically, when they drop eggs, the eggs fall into the stuff on the bottom of the river and hatch on their own. I've never tried it, but some people collect dried leaves from their trees and leave those in the water for kuhlis to hide/play/live amongst. Be careful though as some leaves are good for your water and some are bad. I'm not sure what type you should look for.

You might do a little research online about breeding kuhlis. There are a number of theories, like water changes, that may trigger breeding in kuhlis. You could try one now that the female is gravid to see what happens.

Best of luck!

 

[Wycco]

It might have been the water change (moving to the new tank) that triggered her.

But basically though- just because she has eggs doesn't mean there is much chance of her spawning?

 

[KarlTh]

Correct. It depends on her finding a male who's in the mood.

 

[Wycco]

Not normally a problem with humans!


Yeah, I've no idea the sexes of my Kuhlis- besides the one with eggs of course... two look girthier than than the other two- one of the girthier ones is the one with eggs... don't know if that means the other "plump" one (if that word can be used to describe a Kuhli) is also a female- or that the two skinny ones are male.

I don't know if the males would get in the mood so soon after being released to a new tank.


Anyone know how long from one eggs appear in female to spawning- should spawning occur?



One last question- For such a social fish- 4 doesn't really seem enough members... I would get more, however- I only ever see the Java Loaches (AKA Black Kuhlis- Pangio Oblonga or something like that) in local stores- I lucked out getting the banded Kuhli in aucion.


Were I to get some Java Loaches to join my Kuhlis- would that help add to their feelings of "security" and would they socialise? Or as two distinct species will they not gain any benefit from each other?

Is there any danger of hybridization between members of the Pangio Genre?

 

[bluekrissyspike]

i can't answer most of your questions other than to say my kuhli has been packed with eggs for three years now without spawning. she just keeps getting bigger but no babies.

 

[fishorama]

My kuhlis too carry eggs but no spawning or babies but it's a community tank. I have seen pics of absolutely huge females that don't seem to spawn either. People just accidentally find fry from what I've read.

The different species of pangios get along but I don't know if having more of a different kind would increase the likelihood of spawning, seems unlikely. If you like the oblongas you can definately mix them. There are usually kuhlis on aquabid.

Did you read the article on loaches.com about p.oblonga babies? I don't think he did anything special.

 

[Wycco]

Did you read the article on loaches.com about p.oblonga babies? I don't think he did anything special.

I did read one article online about someone having Java (Oblonga) Loach babies- something about having hard water and large gravel and supposedly all the wrong conditions - (except he did have nice clean water)- but was successfull in having a large brood in a comminity tank. Is that the one?

There are usually kuhlis on aquabid.

I'm hesitant to buy Kuhlis over aquabid or via the mail. I know they're a species that have high die off rates and don't like to be shipped much. Aquabid vs local means they've had one extra long-distance trip to make that local ones wouldn't. Plus being a sensitive species I like being able to examine them before buying to see if they "appear" healthy.

The different species of pangios get along but I don't know if having more of a different kind would increase the likelihood of spawning, seems unlikely. If you like the oblongas you can definately mix them.

Regarding adding Java loaches it would be more for the happiness of my Kuhli than for breeding. Breeding would be a nice bonus- but not my goal... I got a little excited seeing the eggs- needlessly excited it appers. The purpose of adding the Oblonga would be to make my 4 Kuhli happier from a larger Pangio community- not really to encourage them to breed. If it encouraged them to spawn... that would be fantastic... if it didn't... I love Pangio loaches anyway so wouldn't be disappointed.

If they wouldn't increase my Kuhli's happiness I probably wouldn't get them otherwise. My tank is at a decent stocking level already- not that they add much to the bioload. I do like the Oblonga- but I much prefer "banded" Kuhlis.

 

[fishorama]

I know what you mean about shipping, I've only done it twice but it was good. I like the banded species more too. Can you get your LFS to get some? They might not necessarily be the same as you have, p. kuhli or p. meyersi are the ones I see here most, as far as I can tell.

Judging fish happiness can be hard lol.

 

[Wycco]

I only have one LFS nearby... and several chain stores... the chain stores don't special order and I don't really like my LFS- believe it or not- I think the chain stores are better and keep the fish in better conditions than my LFS.

I did actually back in spring ask them and was told twice by them "they would definately have some in stock next week"... they never did... that was before I stopped going there.


I have got other fish and inverts through the mail before and been very happy... not one fish death. I'd definately do it again.

I've not been disappointed about any live-stock I've received in the mail... I've just been hesitant about shipping Kuhlis... Kuhlis being as sensitive as they are.

I'm fairly sure my Kuhli are Pangio Kuhli not one of the other species- I did do a check online when I got them because I knew there were several species that look like them. They're definately not Meyersi (those are the ones that the rings go all the way round arn't they?)


I agree- judging fish happiness is hard. I think so far the Kuhli are happy... they're certainly more active than I expected them to be so soon. They adapted very quickly to my tank. For such a shy, supposedly nocturnal creature- I wasn't expecting to see them for 2 or 3 weeks- from day one they were out and about exploring during daylight. Don't even hide when I lift the lid up to feed them... or peak into the glass. I'm not seeing the typical shy behaviour I've read about for Kuhli.

I read all these accounts of people getting Kuhli and not seeing them for months after letting them go- even thinking they were dead.

Definately not my experience. I got mine at an acution not at a store... who knows- maybe I lucked out and got tank-raised Kuhli...