Kuhli Loach Feeding

[hansgruber7]

Is it necessary to feed Kuhli loaches separately in a community tank? I have had four of them for a few months and they seem fine living off of what I assume are leftovers from feeding the fish. Do most people feed their kuhli loaches separately?

 

[Essjay]

All fish should be fed food suitable for them. Few fish can live long term on left overs. Kuhlis should be fed sinking dried food and live (or frozen) food such as daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodwprm etc.

 

[hansgruber7]

Thanks. Is there any particular brand or item you recommend as far as sinking dried food? I have betta pellets that sink after a minute which they seem to enjoy eating, but I assume that's not ideal?

 

[Essjay]

Betta pellets are usually intended to float and with most bettas they are eaten before they have a chance to sink. But for the kuhlis, any good quality pellet food made for bottom dwellers would be OK - preferably not algae pellets though as they are omnivores.

 

[hansgruber7]

Thanks. I have a few dozen dwarf shrimp in there too who seem to jump on sinking food. I assume I should put the sinking food in after lights are out, right? I noticed you have shrimp in your profile picture. Do you keep them with your Kuhli loaches? Are they good tank mates?

 

[CassCats]

Fluval big bites are great for them. I also feed sinking Northfin Carnivore pellets and OmegaOne shrimp pellets for them, plus flakes and frozen foods.

 

[Essjay]

Do you keep them with your Kuhli loaches?

I don't have kuhli loaches, all my fish are in my profile.

NCaquatics has some good suggestions

 

[CassCats]

Kuhlis are fine with adult shrimp, though they may occasionally eat a young one if they catch it, but not likely to dent anything as kuhlis are scavengers.

I keep mine with bamboo shrimp and ghost shrimp.

 

[hansgruber7]

They must not be eating many young, because my shrimp population is ballooning. I just gave about 30 of them to the LFS a few weeks ago, and the numbers are already back.