Stupid Pangio Question

[Fishy]

Ok, so I bought three "kuhli" loaches a week ago. One of them, which I now know to be a Pangio Myersi loach, has been more lethargic from the start. I was actually going to take him back to the store today because he was laying on his side, looking extra pale and letting my yoyos pounce all over him. However, he did manage to avoid my net when I tried to catch him-- so I figured he couldn't be too sick.

Are pangio myersi just lower energy fish? The regular kuhli bounces off the walls, wriggling all over the tank. Maybe they need a few more buddies? Have I ruined all chances of them enjoying each other's company by getting slightly different types?

It's a 29 gallon tank with 2 rainbows, 2 bolivian rams, 4 yoyos, and now 3 kuhli/myersi loaches.

[Martin Thoene]

There are no stupid questions. Not asking them is stupid..... because you may learn something that will help your fish.

Pangio myersi are no more or no less active than other kuhlis. Certainly, lying around on its side and paleness in a newly introduced kuhli are things to worry about. Kuhlis "drape", they don't lie on their sides like Botia do.

Kuhlis sometimes don't travel well and there can be a relatively high mortality rate until the strong ones acclimatize to local water conditions.

Here's an interesting thread......

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=632&start=0

Martin.

[Graeme Robson]

Yes keeping newly introduced Pangio's are hit and miss! The next time you see some in your lfs, ask if they have Quarantined them and for how long. If the lfs does not quarantine them, then ask how long they been in the store for. I personally only like to purchase pangio's once they have been in local waters for 3 weeks or more. Like Martin says, the mortality rate is High with newly introduced specimens. They are indeed bad travelers.

[Emma Turner]

Hi Fishy,

Are you sure the listlessness wasn't caused by aggression from the Yo-yos in the first place? It's not a mix I'd be happy with, particularly in such a small tank. IMO you'd be better off upgrading the Yo-yos to a larger tank of their own as soon as possible.

Emma

[Graeme Robson]

Excellent point Emma! I forgot about the occupants. I personally wouldn't recommend keeping Pangio's with larger Botia's. The Botia almorhae is most often careless with others at feeding times..etc.

[Fishy]

Ugh, thanks Emma. I guess I should have held back on purchasing them. I had a kuhli loach as a kid that lived forever and I couldn't resist. How big of a tank would you recommend I upgrade to? A 55 gallon? I live in a studio apartment, so I'm reluctant to start collecting multiple tanks in one room. Plus, the landlord probably wouldn't like all that water.

I was planning on upgrading the tank when my yoyos started creeping up towards 4 inches. Right now the biggest two are a full-bodied two inches. The kuhlis are close to four inches each.

The aggression actually did get better and now the khulis hide out together in my java fern. Maybe I can just get a few more live plants for now? I have a lot of good rock caves and plenty of plastic plants, so they aren't lacking hiding places at least.

Thanks everyone for your comments!