Kuhlis with Fluval Stratum - add sand?

[Angiessa]

Hi, all - I have kuhli loaches in a planted tank with Fluval Stratum. I’ve noticed a couple of times the kuhlis having trouble trying to burrow into the substrate. Is Stratum too dense for them? Will it get better as they grow (they’re tiny little things at the moment). Should I get them some sand - and can I bury some containers of it to keep it from just disappearing into the Stratum?

Any advice/ideas welcome. I love these little guys & want them to be happy.

 

[myplecosatemyphone]

I'm new to keeping kuhli loaches but I'm petty sure that they don't always burrow all the way but much more experienced loach keepers can and probably will prove me wrong

 

[Angiessa]

I'm new to keeping kuhli loaches but I'm petty sure that they don't always burrow all the way but much more experienced loach keepers can and probably will prove me wrong

If they could get even partially down I wouldn’t feel so bad. But they go vertical and wiggle like mad without any progress. Funny to watch, but probably frustrating for them.

 

[myplecosatemyphone]

I'm new to keeping kuhli loaches but I'm petty sure that they don't always burrow all the way but much more experienced loach keepers can and probably will prove me wrong

If they could get even partially down I wouldn’t feel so bad. But they go vertical and wiggle like mad without any progress. Funny to watch, but probably frustrating for them.

Oh, I have my loaches with gravel and they seem to be fine, I have fluval stratum in my other tank but it doesn't seem like it would be hard to bury themselves in, in fact it seems like it would be easy

 

[Angiessa]

Okay, they might just be acting silly. That’s definitely one of their more charming traits. One of them was glass-dancing yesterday, haha!

 

[Fishfur]

I think it’s better to give them soft sand because they really do like to burrow. The problem with gravel and other coarser substrates is that sometimes they’ll scrape their skin on some of it and because they don’t swim around in the water column the way most fish do, you may not notice they have wounds until they’re an infected mess full of fungus. Could be a bit late to fix it by then.

If you can’t or would rather not replace the Stratum, which I can easily understand, maybe try putting a good sized sand patch where they most like to hang out and see if they make use of it. They generally prefer to burrow where there’s some object present to hide under.

I really like planted tanks and I know that some substrates like Stratum grow great plants but I always default to what suits the fish best and make up for whatever the sand may lack for plants in other ways.

 

[Angiessa]

Stratum isn’t rough at all; I just think it might be a little too dense for them to dig down into. I’m going today to get some sand & build them a patch or two.

 

[yeti79]

Kuhlis do not necessarily need sand but yours may benefit from cover of some sort. Chollo wood is one of my favorite things for kuhli loaches. Gives them the sense of being hidden with the advantage of the fishkeeper being able to see them while in the wood.

 

[Angiessa]

Kuhlis do not necessarily need sand but yours may benefit from cover of some sort. Chollo wood is one of my favorite things for kuhli loaches. Gives them the sense of being hidden with the advantage of the fishkeeper being able to see them while in the wood.

I have tons of hides for them.

 

[Peachmuffn]

I have both sand and fluval in my 60 with 6 kuhlis. I've noticed the same thing, they dive nose first into the fluval and never get under. However, I've never seen them show any interest in the sand at all.
I do keep the corners of the tank pretty well stocked with Indian almond leaves, and more often than not the little guys are happily burrowed in there! Maybe try adding a handful or two of those instead of clouding up your tank by adding sand?

 

[Angiessa]

I do keep the corners of the tank pretty well stocked with Indian almond leaves, and more often than not the little guys are happily burrowed in there! Maybe try adding a handful or two of those instead of clouding up your tank by adding sand?

I like that idea - plus, my betta will love it. Thanks!