Question on Kuhli Loaches...

J

JamisonBWolsh

I am what I am. Defender of truth!
Nov 1, 2002
967
1
18
Hawaii
Here a question to all you Kuhli lovers out there...

I have a 10 gallon that I re-designed after selling all my albino pleco babies. I add about an inch of black sand and a large white Honeycomb rock in the center of it.

At first, I wanted to get a few shelldwellers, but I found out they can be aggressive to each other, so no to them!

This is my plan. 6 Gold cloud Mountain minnows with 8 Khuli's. So what do you think? will 8 khulis be over crowded... they dont produce much wastes and it is filtered by an aquaclear mini. They can borrow in the sand or hide in the many holes and tunnels of the honeycomb rock. Can I get more than 8 khulis? Thanks for your help! I know the more you get the more they come out...

I am not interested in breeding these guys, just watching them because I been told they can be interesting to watch...
 
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Since they (kuhlis) can get to be 3" a piece, I don't know if those 8 would fit on the bottom of a 10 standard w/o some possible intraspecific aggression issues, and, even with the extra rocks, you will have filtration issues. I think that a 20 gallon might be okay for that group.
 
They do get to 3 inches in length, but they are width impaired :). Skinnier than a worm IMO. A Normal Loach would not fit at 3 inches (not even one), but I was thinking that if I had 8 than they will feel very safe with each other. I am also thinking if I had enough places for them to live, 8 would be good? ? ? Any Ideas?


A Honey comb Rock is great. The peice I have has Many tunnels and holes in it for them to have fun in!
 
Okay, you've convinced me on the kuhlis, and I see that part, but have you thought about throwing in a little extra filtration? The WCMMs would enjoy that, as they are riverine and also cooler-water species, and thus get more oxygen in their water (and need that).
 
Yea...I will have to make sure there is alot of circulation for more o2 (bubbles, casacding water).

I was hoping I can get a reply from someone who owns them and understands their behavior. I cant believe this! I have looked EVERYWHERE for GOLD wcmm and Kuhli's and cant find one! Before, when I did not want them, they were in practically every LFS! Go figure. Murphy's law I guess....
 
You might try pm-ing OrionGirl, b/c I know that she has Kuhlis or has had them in the past.

Sorry that I can't help you much further, but I haven't owned them. I hope that I helped some...

~Matthew
 
I don't think 8 kuhlis will be a problem at all. I have 5 in a planted 5 gallon tank with a trio of dwarf gouramies, and the kuhli's are always a tangle underneath the wood in the tank, or playing together in the sand. As long as the water quality stays in good shape, they should be fine. Make sure the sand is smooth, as they don't like sharp edges.

I have three tanks with them--one that has 2 solid juveniles from my main tanks 2nd spawning, the main tank that has...lesseee...I think about 12 or 13 solids (2 adults, 3 spawns) and one large striped, and the 5 striped kuhlis at work. They are great in groups, very social. Make sure the tank is well covered--those stream lined bodies are great at launching themselves out of the water.
 
How do you know if the sand is "sharp"? I did buy the black sand from a LFS. I cant find any kuhli;s around (go figure), so I have to wait. I wanted the 6 gold WCMM for added color. Should look nice with the black sand and background. My goal is to have many so they can feel comfortable and "hang out" more during the day...
I was able to find one black kuhli at a LFS for 3.00 I may buy him so at least i will have one khuli in the tank and later on, when I can find some khuli's, buy 8 of the normal ones. They really do seem like a perfect fish for a small tank. PLUS they have personality (them being a loach and all).

Oriongirl: at what limit would it be starting to feel overcrowded? In total, I would have the 1 black one and 8 regular ones....Thanks for the help!
 
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I wouldn't mix the kuhli's--the solids and the striped don't mingle in my tank. The lone striped kuhli has made friends with the weather loach and the spiny eels, but he avoids the solids for the most part.

In a 10, I would put more than 8 or 9, mostly because they can be hyper active at times, and that many zooming bodies can startle any tankmates pretty good.
 
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