Loaches Online Forum

Hey everyone! Just got a new 20 g set up.
I took some water from a currently established aquarium, and also some gravel from it as well. Then I took some decor that was also used.
I'm keeping an eye on ammonia levels, waiting on that spike.
This tank is going to my kuhli's and my rainbow shark. ^_^ I'm pondering if a pictus catfish would do the kuhli's any harm? They aren't violent fish, but they do tend to be on the piggy-eater side of the spectrum. Anybody successfully keep these guys together?
Also, how do I know that my tank is completely safe to use? I know generally you have a certain time to wait by, but I know adding items with bacteria changes things.

On another random but joyous note, I found out that the pet store here IS pet city, but the managers do things their way. They order fish that lots of pet city stores don't usually have- they have an enormous tank of cichlids. They have yellow labs, three of them right now. Their color is stunning. Also, their clowns are very pleased! They're also in a large tank, and I quite often see them doing the loachy dance. They've been there for a while, about 2-3 inches, one 3 & 1/2. I was checking them out for skinny, no signs, they've been there for a few months now. I was checking out their tanks and unlike the pet city in CB, the tanks are set up by the temperature the species within is most comfortable in, not just slapped in whatever temp will fit the most fish. I also pulled a little test on them- I was asking about loaches, and they mentioned clowns. They told me I'd need a big tank to house them, and upgrade because of the fact that they can get 10 inches long, if not longer. I must say, for NFLD, I was pleasantly surprised.

No way I would put a pictus in with Kuhlis. Any catfish with wide mouth and long whiskers are predatory. Also, like most Loaches, they are a shoaling fish and really appreciate the company of their own kind, and they get too big for a 20.

It appears that you have made a good find in this store. Don't be tempted by the yellow Labidochromis unless you're going to set up another tank

Martin.

A 20 gallon is also too small for an adult Rainbow (Ruby) Shark.

Emma

Emma said:

A 20 gallon is also too small for an adult Rainbow (Ruby) Shark.

On the same subject, I've got a red-tailed shark in my 55 gallon. I got him when I first set the tank back up. He was just a teeny feller then, but he's about three inches now. When I first put him in, there was a bit of chasing back and forth with the mollies, who were bigger than he was at the time, and then everyone settled down. Yesterday I noticed he was chasing everyone. Not trying to bite, just chasing and bullying a bit. Now he's back to his ho-hum self. I've read that they're territorial. Is this going to be a problem if he gets a little bigger? He doesn't even seem to notice the kuhlis, strangely enough-leaves them alone. My son is very attached to him and has named him and got very upset at the prospect of my taking him back to a fish store, so I don't think that's an option.

Congratulations on the new tank, shazam!

Yes, RTBS can be very territorial. He'll see the larger fish as a territorial threat, not the kuhlis, so it's not suprising that he ignores them.

Martin.

Here is a tough one: who does not ignore kuhlis?
(I'm sure there are species that don't ... but I have not seen them yet.)

Other kuhlis and Homo sapiens loachaholici.

Martin.

I don't!

I can watch them for hours...


seriously?
other kuhlis.

Hence my simultaneous post sophie

Yeah! Other kuhlis love other kuhlis, they don't ignore them.

Martin.

tis what i thought....

If its a 20G long though ( 30" long) you can get away with a couple, like 3ish yellow labs.

I have that on authority from an exceptional malawi source, that 30" is marginally ok for yellow labs in small numbers..

But not with the kuhlis or shark. Anyway, marginal falls into your edict of "Do it right or not at all."

Martin.

what colour are the mollies?
my rts doesn't really notice the loaches BUT hates the SAE's and anything with red in it.
I'd get rid of the mollies

newshound wrote:

what colour are the mollies?
my rts doesn't really notice the loaches BUT hates the SAE's and anything with red in it.
I'd get rid of the mollies

I've got a silver lyretail male who I am thinking of finding a home for because he doesn't get along with the big red dalmation sailfin, and a female black and gold spotted sailfin. The RTS pays more attention to the bigger fish, but he will chase the guppies and the algae eater as well. Only the cory cat and the kuhlis escape his notice.

He's still behaving himself today. Yesterday, I went out and bought some Hikari freeze-dried bloodworms. I'd done tubifex before, but not bloodworms. Boy, was that a popular decision! He dashed about sucking them down as fast as he could and has been extremely mellow ever since. Perhaps I just need to make sure he's very well fed...

Picked up what was supposed to be one decent sized kuhli tonight, and it's two little ones instead. One is very small, about 11/4-1/2 inches and very skinny. My LFS lady had specifically asked for a medium to large one. I suppose I should have just taken the one, but I couldn't resist... I'm hoping they'll both grow-the other two have done so pretty quickly. So now I have 6 kuhlis of varying sorts. No more new fish for this tank, and I might just set up another one and move some of the livebearers there.

I wouldn't dare keep poor Tanooki (my rainbow) in that 20 for any longer than a year. My kuhli's can have it, once he's started to outgrow it. Funny enough, my rainbow doesn't ignore my kuhli's. He adores them! (I've understood he's male- they're so easy to identify. Only males have a vertical stripe along their anal fin) He allows them to sleep in his cave with him every night, and doesn't mind sharing food with them- something he refused to do with my tetras. I also find him swimming up and down the glass with them when they get hyper. They've even landed on him while he's been resting, to no aggression in response. He usually chases a fish that pokes at him while he's resting. But generally, he's a very mild mannered fish. I'd like to get him a 55 at the end of next year, and when that time comes I'll ponder on some tank mates. If the pictus causes trouble for my kuhli's, I'm afraid I'll have to put that on hold until I get my tank for Tanooki. They can get relatively large, specifically in terms of my current tank. But 55 would be acceptable, usually they only reach the 6-7 inch length. I've had pictus catfish previously, they've always gotten along with my rainbows. With Tanooki's mannerisms (that is, if he doesn't get TOO aggressive by the time he's reached full size, who knows how he may be then) things should go ok, but knock on wood.
haha like the son and the RTBS, I am quite attached to Tanooki. He's really rounding out nicely, has a very nice rainbow shark shape. ^_^ His fins are very bright and has a lovely dark body. He's also a very interactive fish, not shy at all. Often he'll come to the tanks top and accept bloodworms or brine shrimp from my fingers. I also love feeding thw dojos in the other tank for the exact same reason, so interactive and friendly. They've gotten a bit plump as well, but at least they can move- unlike many I've seen. They sure know how to guzzle the food down, don't they!

bahahahaha Martin X_X I'd hate to see what would happen with labs, loaches AND a rainbow. I'd come in some day and find they'd set up a wrestling cage match! Yes, definitely waiting on getting the labs. Perhaps when I upgrade Tanooki, I'll consider a pair for my 30. Their coloring is brilliant- it's evident they're well taken care of at that store. I'll provide lots of hiding places and soft sediments like I have now for the kuhli's, so the labs wouldn't have the opportunity to give them trouble. As of now I'm just gradually adding more and more used water into the filter and tank, and used gravel. Speeding the process up inch by inch. I feel guilty that Tanooki has had to live in a small sized tank for the past month or so. The bigger tank I had with me in res, as you may remember me talking about, exploded.

I love to watch kuhli's, they're fascinating. And very playful! They dash between my fingers whenever bloodworm time comes around! They're very lively and I can't wait for the bigger tank to get more. I want six. But it really wouldn't be fair to get more until that 20 is ready, there's no room. I plan on getting 3 black kuhli's, and 3 orange/black kuhli's.
My shark also ADORES bloodworms. It's the only thing he gets gluttonous over. He'll grab a bunch with his tiny mouth, fail to get them all in, and shake it around until it starts piecing off into smaller bits. He's great entertainment!

This pet shop sells HIKARI fish foods! WOOHOO! No more crappy wardley and nutrafin X_X The pet store in CB sold NOTHING better, there was a few scattered tetra products. That's about it, except a few bargain brands of each. Egh... so, I'm excited about getting them something decent to eat!
My goodness, what a huge post!