Loaches Online Forum

Hi!
Just a quick question. Do the Pangio Kuhlii "filter" the sand through the gills like for instance Corydoras?

My reason for asking is that I have never seen my kuhliis do this. I`ve seen them dig in the substrate making the sand go "everywhere" But not sand actually passing through the gills. Nor have I found any reference on the forum stating that this is typical of Pangio Kuhlii. However, I`ve read several posts on another forum stating that this is standard behaviour for Kuhliis. Much like the Corys. I`ve also seen a video where this happens.

So my question is: Is this a typical Kuhlii-behaviour or is it more indivadually based?

Kind regards
Marius

i've seen mine do it tender, it's got to be the norm if they live on sand, especially if you feed live food as i do.

mick

Thanks Mick!
But is it a natural behaviour, or is it simply a consequence of the substrate we put them in, in our tanks?

i'm sure it is tender, as they mostly live over sandy areas, i doubt they would even think about expeling gravel through the gills,
thats why it's preferable to have them on a sandy base.

mick

mickthefish wrote:i doubt they would even think about expeling gravel through the gills,mick

Ha-ha... yeah, that would be pretty stupid I often thought that the recommendation re. sand in loach-aquariums was due to prevent damage to the barbels if they were kept on sharp gravel. Not so much that this was theyre natural habitat. I`ve seen habitat pics where loaches seem to live on a quite rough substrate. But have always presumed that in the wild, this substrate has been "rounded" off, through millions of years of waterflow. Much different to the "man-made" substrate we often buy in the LFS.