Kuhli Loaches

[vanillasky0237]

I was wondering, how many kuhlis can live comfortably in a 55 gallon tank?

[sophie]

long or tall? amd, crucially, who are they sharing the floorspace with?

[vanillasky0237]

Its a long aquarium, 48 unches long, 20 inches tall, and 12 1/4 inches deep. They will be alone on the floor, unless I find some zebra loaches, but the kuhlis are the main thing.

[vanillasky0237]

Anybody have any ideas?

[sophie]

lots.
lots and lots!
what else have you got in there?

[Wendie]

I hate to say this but I still have 7 in a 5 gallon Q tank and they are busy beavers, growing and getting fat. I need to figure out where they are going next. I will probably move them in with the other bunch of kuhlis who have become more active lately since I put a few new ones in with them from this batch.

[vanillasky0237]

Right now theres a bumble bee catfish, but dont worry Im going to move him to the tank upstairs and bring the fish from upstairs down to the 55 gal. The fish upstairs are 1 black neon tetra (soon to be more), 5 rasboras (soon to be about 10) and a pleco, so those will be in the 55 gal downstairs soon.

[Graeme Robson]

Personally! I wouldn't dedicate a 55 gallon with just Pangio's. It's too much of a space waste unless your housing around 30-50 of them. Hmmm?.......Dont get me thinking!

[vanillasky0237]

Oh, they wont be the only thing in there, here, let me ask a new question, how many other fish could I have in the tank if I had 15 khulis in there, because I read that you should only count kuhlis as 1.5 inches of fish per gallon

[NancyD]

How big & what kind is your pleco? Most will out grow a 55 pretty fast. Other than him it sounds good. Maybe some sids, striatas or corydoras too? Love them bottom feeders.
Nancy

[sophie]

if you've got good filtration and you're up on water changes, you coulod happily count your kuhlis as 15 inches of fish only (if, by the way, Graeme disagrees with me, listen to Graeme.) they won't be competeing for space with anything much, though they might not like the pleco.

15 kuhlis, a few striatas, the fish you have now and the more rasboras sounds cool. anything bigger and showyish for the mid-to-top?

[Graeme Robson]

I agree with you Sophie. Pangio's have way less body mass, than the typical 'inch' per fish rule. But personally. i prefer to keep Pangio's in a species only tank set up. So I'll pass on suggestions.

[vanillasky0237]

That is actually a question I had, what kind of centerpeice fish should I get, and how many khulis can I buy at once?

[vanillasky0237]

Also, if I got some today, would they be bothered by the gravel in the tank? Im probobly going to change to sand soon.

[NancyD]

You do have a small quarantine tank to use for new &/or sick fish right? If not that should be a priority so you can keep an eye on them for a couple weeks. Just a 10 gal (or even 5) garage sale tank & heater with a piece of pvc pipe or fitting will do(keep the water level low if no cover). I'd think you could get 4-5 fish at a time.
Nancy