Kuhli Loach Availability?

[Docszoo]

Hi, I'm new here, and somewhat new to the whole community fish tanks. I have had numerous other pets (mostly reptiles and amphibians) and have had exposure to my parents community fishes. So, I got their advice too.

Anyway, I was being an idiot and looking at local pet stores (namely, only our NEW petco, because them being still new means that the fish they sell there may be more healthy). However, I have gone there once last week and the said they were out and they would order more, and be available this week. No such luck, since the system would not let the guy order the loaches. I don't trust the family owned pet store, because they always have some sort of horrid disease spreading around with their fish, and Petsmart = dead fish/ shorter life span.

So, I tried liveaquaria.com or something like that, and their kuhli's were out of stock. . .

So my first question is: How come such a small availability of what seemed to be a very common fish in a pet store?

My second question is: Can I have kuhli's in a tank with my breeding guppies? (I have lots of the guppies breeding, so an occasional fry being eaten is not a big deal)

3rd: What plants and logs and stuff should I buy for some kuhli's? I have 4 what I think are Cryptocorynes or Sword Plants, and lots of blue gravel. The tank dimensions are 3' by 1' by 1' tank.

Thank you for your time in reading my newb questions!

[starsplitter7]

Hi there and welcome.

I have Kuhlies and Guppies together with no problems. However, I have a sand bottom, because the Kuhlies like to bury in it. They also filter the sand for food. They can not do this with gravel.

Kuhlies seem to have a cycle where they are available, and then they are not. I see P. oblanga more often, and usually there are Pangio contaminates that are compatible with them sold as Oblanga. I see actual P. kuhlie less often and usually at the specialty stores. P. oblanga are usually available at PetMart and sometimes Wal-mart (AUGH!). I have much less health problems with P. oblanga, and much more with P. kuhlie. I highly recommend quarantining them before you put new Pangio in your tank, or you could wipe out the entire tank.

I have caves and coconuts for my Pangio. They definitely need a place to hide.

P. oblanga are out much more than my P. kuhlies.

I am a relative beginner. You'll get some more advice soon. Good luck.

[Docszoo]

Thank you so much for your help

I think I am just gonna get some Corydoras for a cleaner type fish. If they do pop up, and I have room, I will try them : )

Sorry for this off topic question, but if I was to keep a kuhli, should I use a fertilizer medium for the plants I want in there too? You have any brand suggestions?

[starsplitter7]

I have herds of Cories, so I really like them. Please make sure you keep enough. Usually five of one species is a good idea. And make sure you feed them like you feed your other fish. Mine really like shrimp pellets, algae wafers, . . . and they clean up the food the other fish leave behind. But they can't survive as just cleaners. I am sure you already know all about this, but so many people don't. Just want to make sure your cleaners have a happy healthy environment. They are such cuties. Mine bred four weeks ago.

I know nothing about plants, so you will need to wait for someone who has more knowledge about that to come along.

Good Luck!

[Gary Stanton]

Try this.

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/ ... 1246074607

[Diana]

I have used some fertilizer tablets even in tanks with fish that dig and have not had problems, but I do not use very many tablets. Mostly I add fertilizers to the water.

Loaches can dig through media that is designed for plants. If the media is very fine (dust) and the fish are enthusiastic diggers the water can get cloudy in such a set up.

Plants do relatively well in something like 3M Colorquartz, and this material is fine for Loaches, and it does not cloud. This might be one of the best 'in-between' media when you want Loaches and plants.

On the other hand, I have Soil Master Select in many tanks, and the water is quite clear. My most energetic diggers do not disturb it so much that they cause any major clouding.

[Docszoo]

Thank you everyone for all your help! I really appreciate it! : )