momo9700

I wanted to get some khuli loaches for my 29gal, but I don't know how many I would need. Can they be kept alone? Or do they need a group. If they can be kept alone, could I keep them with 5-6 neon tetras, 5-6 zebra danios, and 3 platies in a 29gal? or is that over stocked... I saw these guys at my LFS and really wanted to get some, but I don't know if I could. If there's a way I can change around my aquarium stocking plans so that I could get one/some, that would be great.

Also, could I use some large round rocks for substrate? They're about an inch large and very smooth.

AlyeskaGirl

You need 3 or more for them to be happy. They prefer sand as a substrate.

momo9700

Well, sand isn't much of an option for me though. So how would I have to change my stocking plans so that I could get these guys? I already forgot how big they get after reading the page on them about 8 seconds ago, can someone fill me in?

MaddieLynn

Black kuhli's get to 3 inches. There are alot of different varieties of striped kuhlis which can get from 3 to 5 inches, but becasue of their low body mass and bio-load 2 can be counted as one. Like if you get 6 black kuhli's, count it as 9 inches of fish.

Iron waffle

you wouldn't need to change your stocking plan, they get to 3.5-4" but hardly produce any waste, so you could easily have 3. I would recommend some fine gravel, they don't really need sand, they just prefer it.

momo9700

Okay, so then would this work:

5 Zebra Danios (about 10 inches of fish)
5 Neon Tetras (about 7.5 inches of fish)
2 Platies (about 5 inches of fish)
3 Khuli Loaches (about 6 inches of fish?)

That all adds up to 28.5 inches of fish... just barely....
About the 2 platies, I know they need to be kept in groups of 3, but I ave two right now(the other one died ) and I don't really want more...

momo9700

So, for the gravel, you know that stuff you see as gravel in places like Petco? The colorful stuff thats really artificial looking... Would that work?

I was thinking of this:
http://www.petco.com/product/107318/...um-Gravel.aspx

Or this:
http://www.petco.com/product/107333/...um-Gravel.aspx

AlyeskaGirl

They are scaless little guys and can scratch easy....you need small pebbles that are smooth.

Iron waffle

your stocking sounds great and it should be fine as long as the gravel isn't too big.

AlyeskaGirl

momo9700

Okay, so its a no-go on the large smooth rocks then? And thanks for the tip on them being scale-less, I didn't know that!(never had them before, this will be my first time with both the kuhli's and the danios)

also, I edited the last post and put the links to the two gravels I liked. I'll putthem here again just because

I was thinking of this:
http://www.petco.com/product/107318/...um-Gravel.aspx

Or this:
http://www.petco.com/product/107333/...um-Gravel.aspx

Iron waffle

i like the first one.

momo9700

Thanks for the link to that site, AlyeskaGirl, it's good to know that they shouldn't be added in newer tanks, that would have been a disaste in the making.... How long should I wait to add them after the tank gets cycled?

simplestoryvile

would these go withghost shrimp or would they be tempted by it?

momo9700

So do I. I just sort of though the second one looked smoother and maybe smaller. I like them both though because they look more like sand.

momo9700

I have the same question, except, I want to know if they'll go with ANY shrimp

AlyeskaGirl

If you can find some rocks that are smoother it would be better.

Also with loaches you can't add any aquarium salt. It will burn them because they are scaless.

momo9700

Okay. I don't think I was going to add any salt...ever... but that's good to know too.

simplestoryvile

awww. i love watching my fish get high off of aquarium salt after a water cgange is strees coat good with them? and the mpst questuonable things i have with them is that will they work with dwarf gouramis and small shrimp? i kno every thing else inb my stocking plan is ok with these guys.

momo9700

Oh, btw, do they eat algae and stuff? Just curious about that too, because I'm gunna need some algae eaters in there.

simplestoryvile

how bout some ottos ? i think they go well together

momo9700

Well, my plan has me already fully stocked. I was wondering if the khulis were algae eaters...otherwise I'm definetly gunna need some shrimp in there

AlyeskaGirl

Yes, it is!

AlyeskaGirl

I've never had shrimp so I don't know about that. Hopefully someone will come along and answer that.

momo9700

Okay. I'm just worried about overstocking...So I don't want to get any ottos or cories in there...Unless you guys know of an algae eaters with a super low bio load....

MaddieLynn

Kuhli's and corys are not algae eaters. They are scavengers or bottom feeders.

momo9700

Well, are there any kind of fish with very low bioload that eat algae that I could add? With my little inch of space left lol....(unless i get rid of the platies)

Shaina

Low bio-load algae eaters tend to be certain kinds of shrimp and snails, and Otocinclus.

momo9700

hmm...so do you think I could squeeze some ottos in there? or is that too much?

AlyeskaGirl

Lets see, 5 Zebra Danios, 5 Neons, 2 platys and 3 K Loaches will be about 30inches. Maybe get away with 2 otos and that would put you at about 34 inches. Remember the loaches have a small bioload.

I've never had Otos so don't know anything about them, lol!