MaddieLynn

I'm thinking about getting some black Kuhli's when I get my 29 gallon stand. I have several q's:

Are they pretty much equivilent to cory's as cleaners?

What's the normal size?

What's the smallest recommended number to have?

How many could I keep in a 29 gallon tank with 3 mollies and a dwarf gourami?

I have a high pH, about 8.2, would it effect them?

Will they tolerate aquarium salt?

What do they eat?

AlyeskaGirl

Here read this: Kuhli loach caresheet

No salt!

agabr123

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fres.../JavaLoach.php

i'd get at least three of them, more if you think you have room. they probably will not be okay with salt, and they do prefer a lower pH so that could potentially be a problem.

Butterfly

1) They will eat anything that hits the bottom of the tank but still have to be fed too. They really like shrimp pellets, veggie wafers and thawed frozen blood worms.
2) they get three to four inches long but because of their small body mass and low bioload two can be counted as one
3) I personally would get no less than three but more is better. You could probably put at least six in the 29g with what you currently have.
4) If slowly acclimated they will probably be fine. but acclimation is the key.
5) they do not tolerate salt well in any amount
Here is another profile for you
http://www.loaches.com/species-index...ngio%20oblonga

Carol

MaddieLynn

Not even aquarium salt? I thought aquarium salt didn't really count as salt like marine does... I thought it was more of a water conditioner.

Butterfly

It's still sodium chloride-salt.
carol

MaddieLynn

I've done some research on it, and I've found differing opinions about it. Check out this:

http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~boris/maha...esE.html#Water

This person says "not enough salt". However...

I find differing opinions in this thread:

http://aquaweb.pair.com/forums/archi...cgi?read=21254

However, it seems to me that the 2 people who have theirs with salt have some experience with Kuhli's, but the people who say that it's bad for them are just repeating what they heard/read...

Can I hear from someone who's had experience with Kuhli's and salt?

MissMTS

I have never kept my kuhlis with salt. Just wondering, why are you keeping salt in the tank in the first place? The fish that you are planning on stocking would be fine without it. Honestly, I think it would be less of a hassle. Just my opinion though

MaddieLynn

I keep salt because I feel it keeps my Mollies healthier, but other people have differing opinions. I'm seriously, seriously thinking of ditching the salt since I waaaannnt thoooose looooaaaaaches!

agabr123

lol, yeah i'd be willing to skip on the salt for some black kuhlis, they are so cute!

Butterfly

I've kept Kuhlis for years and still do but not with salt. Salt is an irritant and especially so to small scaled or scaleless fish.
Carol

MaddieLynn

*Drumroll.....*

I'm ditching the salt! I'm going to put sand as a substrate in my 29g and I'll have 4 black kuhli's and 4 corys.