armadillo

Hi everyone. We're considering khuli loaches for our 10G hex. What do you think to the following:

- Would they be OK in a pH of 8.0? Our natural tap water is 8.0, and I don't want to start messing around with pH at every water change because am sure the fish won't welcome the fluctuations.
- As they're long fish, I am wondering if a vertical hex is a good idea for them?
- Would they be happy with no other khulis, or do they need same-species tank mates?
- Does the 1 inch of fish per gallon rule apply roughly, and this would mean each khuli needs 4G?

Stradius011

They can live without other kuhli loaches. If other kuhli loaches are present they will group together but they are naturally solitary fish. I don't know if the 1 inch rule applies to kuhli loaches but I heard that they have a light bioload.

armadillo

Thanks, Stradius.

Actually, we read and heard that they need at least 3. We got him 2 other mates now so that's 3.

We've also had to move them to a long 13G, so they're happy as can be in there.

And I've now read that indeed their bioload is comparatively light.

Another question, though: how do you avoid your kuhlies being scratched from burrowing in the pebbles? We have fine pebble substrate, but these stones are quite sharp (little rocks, basically). Do you absolutely have to have sand with kuhlies?

Butterfly

Kuhlis can live alone but are MUCH more active and inter active with more of their own kind. In pebbles they probably won't borrow as much but will help keep the gravel clean. they don't seem to have a problem getting scratched. They are great little loaches
Carol

armadillo

Mmmh. tha'ts strange. I wonder where ours get their scratches from? What do you keep yours in, what substrate?

Butterfly

Sand and gravel substrates for mine. What are they in with? What do the scratches look like? (I know they look like scratches ) you have pics
Carol

armadillo

So sand definitely not entirely necessary for kuhlis?

They're really not fight scratches. They're all along the length, little scratches. Not deep, very much on the surface.

We see them squeeze through everythign at high speed, I wonder if one just got caught and used force to dislodge itself. Would totally fit in with how we see them behave.

Butterfly

Could be from zooming through things indeed. Mine act like their on speed and go crazy in the bubble curtain.
Carol

armadillo

Ooooh, bubble curtain. I need to remind him to get that. He's got a large stone, but am sure they'd love the bubble curtain. It's nice and agitated as it is, though, but am sure they'd love a little more.

Butterfly

I posted a not very good vid over at youtube of the Kuhlis in a bubble curtain.
Carol

armadillo

he he he. Being the fish geek that I am, I think I know the one you mean and I saw it. Really funny.

Butterfly

[quote=armadillo ]

They're really not fight scratches. They're all along the length, little scratches. Not deep, very much on the surface.

{/quote]
while I'm thinking about it, Kuhlis don't have the means to scratch or really hurt each other in a fight like the Botine(clowns,yoyos,striata etc.) loaches. but they are active enough to run into stuff
Carol

armadillo

Totally thinking of your bubble curtain idea. That's for tomorrow on our things to get from the fishstore list.