adadkins1
Aquarium Advice Addict
Submitted By: adadkins1
Common Names: Kuhli Loach or sometimes Coolie Loach
Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii
Category: Loach
Family: Cobitidae
Origin: Indonesia
Maximum Size: 4 inches max
Ecosystem: Sandy bottom streams among leaf litter
Salinity: Freshwater
Temperment: Extremely Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Temperature: 75°F - 82°F
pH Range: 6.0 - 8.0
Hardness: 5 - 12
Sexing: Females will be plumper when filled with eggs.
Lifespan: 4-5 years, but there have been reports of 10+ years
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallon for a group of 5; NOTE: The minimum tank size varies widely from the 10g I listed up to a 30g.
Strata: Substrate
Tankmates: Other peaceful fish such as Rasboras, Barbs, Tetras, Gouramis, and others as long as they do not see the Kuhli as food.
Acclimation: Acclimate your Kuhli Loaches slowly in order to prevent unneeded stress. Float the fish in the bag for about 30 minutes so it can get used to the temperature in your aquarium. Then remove about 50% of the water from the bag. Slowly replace the water removed with some from you aquarium. Do this in increments: replace about 10 % of the water with some from your aquarium then wait 20 minutes. Do this process until you have 50% original water and 50% of your water. This will allow the fish time to get used to the chemical properties of your water. Finally, carefully release your fish into the aquarium and enjoy.
Care: Kuhli Loaches must be kept in groups of at least 5 individuals. They are not really schooling fish, but when kept singly or in very small groups they will rarely be seen. They feel security in numbers like other social fish. Kuhlis love a well-planted aquarium with caves and many densely planted areas for them to seek shelter. Some leaf litter (Oak and Indian Almond come to mind) will be greatly appreciated and mimic their natural habitat. Sand substrate is preferred, but gravel will be sufficient. Just make sure there are no rough edges to injure the Kuhli's sensitive barbels.
Feeding: Kuhlis are extremely easy to feed. As scavengers they will enjoy any scraps your other fish miss, but they still need to have food of their own. Since they do a lot of their foraging at night it is recommended that you feed them right before or after lights off. You can feed shirmp pellets, bloodworms, algae pellets, or even just sink some flake food for them; they are not very picky.
Breeding: Kuhli Loaches are very rarely bred in aquaria. In the days of the undergravel filter, people would sometimes discover their Kuhlis missing. When they went in search of them they would find that their Kuhlis had gotten in their UGF and bred. I have never experienced breeding Kuhlis and it is considered very difficult.
*If you have had any experience with breeding them, let us know!
Comments: I have a nice school of 5 Kuhli Loaches in my 55g to keep the substrate clean. I will soon be upping their numbers as soon as my tank finishes its mini-cycle. These critters are true characters. They will be sifting around in the substrate then just stop and sit in one spot for hours. Sometimes they will go on a mad rampage swimming all around the tank. These are definitely wonderful bottom feeders that are entertaining to watch and do not add a massive amount to your bio-load IMO.
Sources:
Loaches - Cobitinae
Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) Loaches Online
Common Names: Kuhli Loach or sometimes Coolie Loach
Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii
Category: Loach
Family: Cobitidae
Origin: Indonesia
Maximum Size: 4 inches max
Ecosystem: Sandy bottom streams among leaf litter
Salinity: Freshwater
Temperment: Extremely Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Temperature: 75°F - 82°F
pH Range: 6.0 - 8.0
Hardness: 5 - 12
Sexing: Females will be plumper when filled with eggs.
Lifespan: 4-5 years, but there have been reports of 10+ years
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallon for a group of 5; NOTE: The minimum tank size varies widely from the 10g I listed up to a 30g.
Strata: Substrate
Tankmates: Other peaceful fish such as Rasboras, Barbs, Tetras, Gouramis, and others as long as they do not see the Kuhli as food.
Acclimation: Acclimate your Kuhli Loaches slowly in order to prevent unneeded stress. Float the fish in the bag for about 30 minutes so it can get used to the temperature in your aquarium. Then remove about 50% of the water from the bag. Slowly replace the water removed with some from you aquarium. Do this in increments: replace about 10 % of the water with some from your aquarium then wait 20 minutes. Do this process until you have 50% original water and 50% of your water. This will allow the fish time to get used to the chemical properties of your water. Finally, carefully release your fish into the aquarium and enjoy.
Care: Kuhli Loaches must be kept in groups of at least 5 individuals. They are not really schooling fish, but when kept singly or in very small groups they will rarely be seen. They feel security in numbers like other social fish. Kuhlis love a well-planted aquarium with caves and many densely planted areas for them to seek shelter. Some leaf litter (Oak and Indian Almond come to mind) will be greatly appreciated and mimic their natural habitat. Sand substrate is preferred, but gravel will be sufficient. Just make sure there are no rough edges to injure the Kuhli's sensitive barbels.
Feeding: Kuhlis are extremely easy to feed. As scavengers they will enjoy any scraps your other fish miss, but they still need to have food of their own. Since they do a lot of their foraging at night it is recommended that you feed them right before or after lights off. You can feed shirmp pellets, bloodworms, algae pellets, or even just sink some flake food for them; they are not very picky.
Breeding: Kuhli Loaches are very rarely bred in aquaria. In the days of the undergravel filter, people would sometimes discover their Kuhlis missing. When they went in search of them they would find that their Kuhlis had gotten in their UGF and bred. I have never experienced breeding Kuhlis and it is considered very difficult.
*If you have had any experience with breeding them, let us know!
Comments: I have a nice school of 5 Kuhli Loaches in my 55g to keep the substrate clean. I will soon be upping their numbers as soon as my tank finishes its mini-cycle. These critters are true characters. They will be sifting around in the substrate then just stop and sit in one spot for hours. Sometimes they will go on a mad rampage swimming all around the tank. These are definitely wonderful bottom feeders that are entertaining to watch and do not add a massive amount to your bio-load IMO.
Sources:
Loaches - Cobitinae
Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) Loaches Online
