Kuhli Loach and Filters

[rosietoo]

Hello! I'm just setting up a new tank - jewel rekord 60. I like the idea of having a couple of Kuhli loach, but am worried that they may sneak into the filter housing through the little gaps, never to be seen again!

Has this ever happened to anyone, and is there much you can do about it?

 

[GSD]

The tank is too small for khulis i think,its only 13gallons.
As for the filter the gaps are very small so i dont think it will get sucked thrrough.I have one and the gaps are too small for even my tiger barbs to go through.and they like to be in groups

 

[millym]

hi
we sadly lost a teeny yoyo loach ages ago who swam into our fluval filter outlet, we'd watched him for ages swimming madly against the current thinking...he'll never do it! till he did & poor thing died . we since covered our outlet & gaps with pieces of old tights & a rubber band. dont know if this will work on your filter but any fine mesh over the gaps esp whilst your loach is small. they love small dark nooks & crannies as you've guessed & it may be a risk if you cant cover these spots to make it safe.

 

[rosietoo]

Thank you both for your replies. I'll maybe have to think again about the kuhlis!

 

[GSD]

no problem.Ive never had them before i think id like them but i dont have the space.I have the rekord 60 and it is a nice tank but the filters stop working alot!so you have to clean it alot more often than usual.They look nice though when theyre all set up.If your worried about the filter then you could put sme tights over it(new ones)and it will stop fish going into it.
Is there any other fish your thinking of and have you cycled the tank?

 

[rosietoo]

I haven't actually set the tank up yet....I've got a big bag of sand to wash this afternoon, not particularly looking forward to that job!

I was thinking of 'cloning' the tank by taking one of the filter sponges from my Rio 125 and using it in the filter housing of the new tank - is this a good idea?

In term of stocking, I quite like the idea of a little shoal of black phanton tetras, and maybe 3 guppies (2f, 1m) as a contrast.

If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them!

 

[GSD]

have fun washing all that sand!!!!!I couldnt be bothered with mine and stuck gravel in i wish i hadnt now

ive had black phantoms.They are nice but mine were a little shy.
heres some info i found
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=893


also i like the dwarf gouramis.Theyre really nice and colourful.But the males will fight dunno if you like them but theyre worth looking into
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=981


The guppies could be a good idea if your prepared for fry.Also bear in mind that due to inbreeding guppies are not as hardy as they used to be and can be sensitive to bad water parms.

Have you thought about a bottom feeder or catfish.Such as cories.Which will eat all the uneaten food from the bottom and are also very cute and funny to watch.
and come in many diffrent types


and colaning a tank can be a good idea,use the filter media from the old tank and put it in the new to help along the cycle

 

[KentBlokey]

I have Kuhli's with a Juwel filter and used to see them go in and out of the filter grate. Now they just hide anywhere else as they are getting to fat to fit through. To be honest, I wouldn't bother with them, as if they're like mine, you'll never see them.

Black phantom tetras are great! They're peaceful and are great to watch as they interact with each other unlike some other Tetras.

 

[Bloo]

i can't see why a kuhli would not be suitable for a 13 gallon ? they only get around 3" and are extremely low waste producers. One can't possibly compare them to say a 3" plec that's a relatively high waste producer.

 

[rosietoo]

Thanks ever so much for your help! I'm thinking of having quite a few plants and hiding places, which I think will suit the phantoms.

I love corys! I have 5 in my other tank. I spotted some panda corys in one of my lfs the other day - they were gorgeous, and would go quite nicely with the phantoms, I think. But I have heard they are far less hardy than other corys, so I'm not sure about them...

I'm not too bothered about guppy fry, I already give my platy fry to a lfs in return for plants etc, so that's not a problem.

So many decisions, I feel like a child in a sweet shop!

 

[rosietoo]

Thanks for the advice KentBlokey! That was one of my concerns actually - although they look gorgeous, I have to stand in the lfs with my nose pressed against the tank for ages before I spot one!

Bloozoo2, I was thinking along the same lines as you, and thought they would be ok in terms of size and waste. However, I may re-think and go for corys on the bottom instead...

 

[Bloo]

Bloozoo2, I was thinking along the same lines as you, and thought they would be ok in terms of size and waste. However, I may re-think and go for corys on the bottom instead...

[snapback]871015[/snapback]​

Cories are indeed lovely ! but they also like to be in groups - min 4 but ideally 6+ and they also get to 3" at least and are much higher watste producers than Kuhlis.
I have a couple of Kuhlis in my 20 Gallon and a single Kuli in my Vision 180 and they are all happy as Larry

 

[GSD]

i can't see why a kuhli would not be suitable for a 13 gallon ? they only get around 3" and are extremely low waste producers. One can't possibly compare them to say a 3" plec that's a relatively high waste producer.

[snapback]871009[/snapback]​

I have NEVER owned them.I am going off what websites and others say.Many people have told me and many websites say they need a tank of 20gallons

http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di...cfm?pCatId=1072

and as it says here

"Care: They are gregarious and feel much more comfortable in the company of their own kind. Generally more than 6 in a group."

they need a group of more than 6.which will mean you are over stoked if going with the inch per gallon rule.

 

[Bloo]

Ah ok - well it's definitely sometimes confusing reading website of differing opinions etc. so I can only give my own experience with them. The single Kuhli I have in my one tank I've had for about 18 months now and he shares his piece of bogwood with an upside down catfish, a CAE and 2 Angelicus Loaches. He seems very happy and healthy.

Then I have two in my other tank and they hang around together quite a bit but it's not like they're always together. So I can't honestly see any problem with having a couple or so in the rekord 60 at all

 

[GSD]

ok.
well thats what i heard now i know diffrent
are they agressive at all?and do they actualy come out of the bogroot.Coz ome fish you hardly ever see