How many kuhlis for a 45?

I've got a 45 gallon with 2 platies, a gourami, rt shark, pictus and bumblebee cf, and 2 kuhlI loaches. Please don't lecture me on how I am overstocked because I already know that the pictus and rt shark need a bigger tank and I am working on finding a bigger tank for them. Also, most of my older fish are starting to die off from old age. But I would like to get a school of kuhlis so that they are as active as possible. How many can I fit in my tank so that they are happy, but I will still have some room for some other small schooling fish?

 

What are the dimensions of the tank? I'd say you could probably easily do 10. Maybe more depending on the footprint of the tank as well as removing the pictus and shark. Do you know if it's the asian bumblebee cat or the southamerican bumblebee cat?

 

I would wait until you find a bigger tank and move them before you get kuhlis. The pictus and RTS will stress the kuhlis out.

 

Agreed with TexasDomer

Also, how large is your bumblebee cat? Depending on the size of the catfish and the size of the kuhli's, the kuhli's may get eaten. If it's an asian bumblebee cat then they will definitely get eaten eventually. If the kuhli's are full grown (around 4 inches) then they should be ok with with a south american bumblebee cat. But I can't say for sure. Both cats are predatory and eat earthworms. Personally I'd move the bumblebee cat with the pictus and shark.

 

Agreed with TexasDomer

Also, how large is your bumblebee cat? Depending on the size of the catfish and the size of the kuhli's, the kuhli's may get eaten. If it's an asian bumblebee cat then they will definitely get eaten eventually. If the kuhli's are full grown (around 4 inches) then they should be ok with with a south american bumblebee cat. But I can't say for sure. Both cats are predatory and eat earthworms. Personally I'd move the bumblebee cat with the pictus and shark.

Ok. It's South American the bumblebee is not large, but it is pretty fat. My kuhlis are like 2 months old and still pretty small. The bumblebee rarely comes sour though. Both the pictus and the bumblebee have like a space that they pretty much always stay in so I'm not very concerned them eating the kuhlis as they rarely cross paths. I will definitely move them out though. The dimensions are 3 ft long, 20 inches deep, and has a width of 1 ft. Also, two more things. Can you fit two platies in a 2.5 gallon and how many neon tetras are in a school?

 

The only thing that can fit in a 2.5 gallon are shrimp and snails. Depending on the shape of a 2.5 gallon you might be able to fit a betta in. Platies need a 10 gallon minimum.

Neons require 6 for a school. Though increased numbers are always better

For a 36 inch tank I'd say you can easily do 10 kuhli's after you remove the shark, pictus and bumblebee. If they are the only thing on the bottom then you could probably go as high as 12 or 14.

 

for a 2.5 gallon you could have a shrimp colony, it would look really nice!

 

The only thing that can fit in a 2.5 gallon are shrimp and snails. Depending on the shape of a 2.5 gallon you might be able to fit a betta in. Platies need a 10 gallon minimum.

Neons require 6 for a school. Though increased numbers are always better

For a 36 inch tank I'd say you can easily do 10 kuhli's after you remove the shark, pictus and bumblebee. If they are the only thing on the bottom then you could probably go as high as 12 or 14.

Ok great! What type of easily found shrimp would you suggest? It is like a rectangle but the front is a little bit curved. It is 9 inches tall, 9 long, and 5 wide. Could I do a beta?

 

That seems a bit small but I am admittedly not an expert on the minimum size for a betta as far as dimensions go. TexasDomer what do you think?

as far as shrimp, I think if you put a few plants and small stones in (probably without a beta) you could do some cherry shrimp and a nerite and maybe a mystery snail.I think that would be a really fun tank.

 

That seems a bit small but I am admittedly not an expert on the minimum size for a betta as far as dimensions go. @TexasDomer what do you think?

as far as shrimp, I think if you put a few plants and small stones in (probably without a beta) you could do some cherry shrimp and a nerite and maybe a mystery snail.I think that would be a really fun tank.

What do you feed shrimp?

That seems a bit small but I am admittedly not an expert on the minimum size for a betta as far as dimensions go. @TexasDomer what do you think?

as far as shrimp, I think if you put a few plants and small stones in (probably without a beta) you could do some cherry shrimp and a nerite and maybe a mystery snail.I think that would be a really fun tank.

Could I do ghost shrimp?

 

I'll defer to other shrimp keepers for what to feed them. Typically most people suggest cherry shrimp over ghost shrimp as ghost shrimp are usually not long lived but I am admittedly not an expert.

 

8-10 is not too many for a 29g. I have 9 in my 20 long, and would gladly (and safely) keep more, if the Cherry Barbs weren't there to use up my biological filter! KuhlI bioloads are very small compared to their length.

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Oh ok Sorry for the confusion! How many could I fit in a 45? I already have 8. It's a 3 ft long tank.

 

Oh ok Sorry for the confusion! How many could I fit in a 45? I already have 8. It's a 3 ft long tank.

Before answering that, can I ask for the rest of the stock in your tank?

Edit: I ask because it's not just the size of the tank that limits you, but also how many other bottom feeders it shares the space with, as well as how much of a bioload you have taken up (if you are understocked, there is a gap before reaching a point where you're overstocked, and this is your biggest factor in whether or not you can have more kuhlis).

 

Before answering that, can I ask for the rest of the stock in your tank?

Edit: I ask because it's not just the size of the tank that limits you, but also how many other bottom feeders it shares the space with, as well as how much of a bioload you have taken up (if you are understocked, there is a gap before reaching a point where you're overstocked, and this is your biggest factor in whether or not you can have more kuhlis).

I have one other bottom feeder, a bumblebee cat. He's scared of the kuhlis and zooms away when they move

 

For a 3 foot tank I'd say 12 easily. Upwards of 15 would be doable with only a bumblebee cat.

But I'm not sure I'd put them in until after the pictus and RTS is moved.

 

For a 3 foot tank I'd say 12 easily. Upwards of 15 would be doable with only a bumblebee cat.

But I'm not sure I'd put them in until after the pictus and RTS is moved.

Ok cool. I haven't had problems with either messing with my kuhlis yet. I'm hoping to make a visit to petsmart within the next couple of days.

 

Just because they are leaving them alone now..doesn't mean they will once you increase their numbers. An introduction of that many fish can likely change the dynamics in the tank.

 

Just because they are leaving them alone now..doesn't mean they will once you increase their numbers. An introduction of that many fish can likely change the dynamics in the tank.

Ok. I'll keep my eye out until then!

 

Ok great! What type of easily found shrimp would you suggest? It is like a rectangle but the front is a little bit curved. It is 9 inches tall, 9 long, and 5 wide. Could I do a beta?

That seems a bit small but I am admittedly not an expert on the minimum size for a betta as far as dimensions go. @TexasDomer what do you think?

Those dimensions come out to 1.75 gal, not 2.5 gal. Not big enough for a betta. Fine for shrimp though.

What do you feed shrimp?

Mine get a variety of foods. Blackworms, brine shrimp, shrimp pellets, omnivore flakes, and veggies (they love sweet potato).

 

Those dimensions come out to 1.75 gal, not 2.5 gal. Not big enough for a betta. Fine for shrimp though.



Mine get a variety of foods. Blackworms, brine shrimp, shrimp pellets, omnivore flakes, and veggies (they love sweet potato).

Cool! I am definitely doing shrimp and my sponge filter and stuff come tomorrow. The reason it came back at 1.75 is because the front is curved. I don't have the actual measurements so that was a rough estimate. It's a 2.5 though, it says it on the bottom.