Kuhlii "filtering" sand?

[tender]

Hi!
Just a quick question. Do the Pangio Kuhlii "filter" the sand through the gills like for instance Corydoras?

My reason for asking is that I have never seen my kuhliis do this. I`ve seen them dig in the substrate making the sand go "everywhere" But not sand actually passing through the gills. Nor have I found any reference on the forum stating that this is typical of Pangio Kuhlii. However, I`ve read several posts on another forum stating that this is standard behaviour for Kuhliis. Much like the Corys. I`ve also seen a video where this happens.

So my question is: Is this a typical Kuhlii-behaviour or is it more indivadually based?

Kind regards
Marius

[mickthefish]

i've seen mine do it tender, it's got to be the norm if they live on sand, especially if you feed live food as i do.

mick

[tender]

Thanks Mick!
But is it a natural behaviour, or is it simply a consequence of the substrate we put them in, in our tanks?

[mickthefish]

i'm sure it is tender, as they mostly live over sandy areas, i doubt they would even think about expeling gravel through the gills,
thats why it's preferable to have them on a sandy base.

mick

[tender]

i doubt they would even think about expeling gravel through the gills,mick

Ha-ha... yeah, that would be pretty stupid I often thought that the recommendation re. sand in loach-aquariums was due to prevent damage to the barbels if they were kept on sharp gravel. Not so much that this was theyre natural habitat. I`ve seen habitat pics where loaches seem to live on a quite rough substrate. But have always presumed that in the wild, this substrate has been "rounded" off, through millions of years of waterflow. Much different to the "man-made" substrate we often buy in the LFS.