Loaches Online Forum

So I have ten kuhli: 5 black and 5 striped in a 10 gallon Qtank, They are doing GREAT!! and seem to like each other VERY well, regardless of color. I imagine them talking amongst themselves...(what is this?...good food and clean water ? WOW!!!...I got them from my yucky LFS, since my fave "not so LFS" when under last week).
Their current tank is well cycled and gets regular water changes to keep NO3 around 10 (not perfect, but pretty good, I think). Planted, with gravel, but I think they would have a blast in some sand (part of what needs to happen in their perm home)

My original plan when I bought them was for the blacks to go in one tank and the striped to go in another. Now that I see how happily they exist together (and seem to really like each others company), I would like to KEEP them together.
What is the consensus on appropriate tank size, all other factors being equal. I know there need to be some dithers, and maybe a small pleco, but aside from that, would they do okay in a 20 G? or 29G or 55G (these are the choices, sorry if you think something else, but I do not have any more tank space!!!). Obviously, bigger is always better when it comes to tanks, but I have secreat plans for the 55g

thanks for your thoughts!!

I think a 29 would be great with a Bristlenose and some gentle fish like 20 neon tetras. Give them a sand floor and lots of plants and driftwood, and you will have the happiest Kuhlies. I would definitely keep them all together. They love company. The more the merrier. Post pictures when they are settled.

I'd say a 20g long or 29 would be ok. I have a mixed group of black & striped too in a 40g long. The oblongas are much more hyper but they're relatively new. Their dashing aroung has uprooted some new crypt offsets & the cherry shrimp get bowled over with sand flying sometimes LOL.