Loaches Online Forum

Hello Folks,

Im considering a new tank, the same size as my current one which is 125L/35 us gall, its a Juwel Rio. My main choice for stocking is some Khuli Loaches, which i have always liked and i was hoping some of you could help me with this.

How many Khuli should i put in my tank ?
What sort of tank do Khuli like (airflow, planting, landscaping) ?
Could i keep other fish with the Khuli and which would be most suitable (from same area of the world) ?
How could i use water from my current tank to speed up the maturation process in my new tank ?

I posted to this forum a few years ago with the same sorts of questions, but i was just starting out with my current aquarium (see sig) and wanted to get some experience with those fish before trying some loaches.

Hi Stephen,

I can't answer all your questions, but I know I can answer a few.

First, old tank water doesn't help with cycling -- just adds dirty water. You could use filter material from the old tank, some decorations or some gravel. The filter material is the best. I have charcoal in my filter material, and I take the old charcoal and put it in the new bag. I also rub the old filter on the new one to transfer some gunge, since that's where the bacteria is.

I have two filters running on all my tanks, so I can just take a filter off the first tank and put it on the new tank, and I am cycled. If I was you, I would add the new filter to your old tank, and get it started, so it will cycle more quickly. Does that make sense?

I would think in a 35 gallon you could add at least 6 Kuhlies. Wait for the experts to chime in. I am not sure what other type of fish are native to the same region, but I am sure there is a nice schooling rasbora or danio from the same region. I would add a minimum of six of those too. The Kuhlies will be shy, but mine come out at night and to eat, and when they are settled in, then I see them all the time.

My Kuhlies love plants and they like caves. I find them in the plants, under the sand and in the Caves.

It is important that you get the same species of Kuhlies, but you can also mix two groups of pangios. To me the same species are like family, and two different species are friends. They need groups of their own kind, but mine all bundle and hang out together. I have Kuhlies, oblanga and eel loaches all together and they are happy.

I keep my Kuhlies with Cories, Ghost cats, Oto cats, Bristlenoses, rubberlips and Sids. They seem to be a happy mix.

I have two filters on the tank and two bubblers and everyone seems to do okay.

Hope this helps.