Loaches Online Forum

Hi Emma, thank you for the welcome! Ok so it's a no go together. I have yet another question... Would I then be able to keep Kuhlis successfully with small shrimp like crystal red shrimp? This tank is already established, is well planted, rocks & driftwood, lower flow, and has a soil base substrate covered with fine gravel and a white sand path.

It will depend on the size of this tank (wants to be 3ft long really) and the smoothness of the substrate. Sharp gravels etc can damage bottom-dwelling fish such as loaches, so you'll need to take a small scoop of it into your hand and have a feel to see if it is ok against the skin. The grains also want to be quite small, as certain species of kuhli loach (such as Pangio anguillaris) like to burrow. Sand is the best option, but small-grained smooth gravels can also be used. There should be no problem keeping them alongside the little Crystal Red Shrimps.

Hope this helps,

Emma

Wow, I have been reading your posts and never knew clown loaches get so big! What a shame, you see them in every LFS here..and you know most people will not have a big tank for them.