Loaches Online Forum

I just got two thick, healthy kuhli loaches from a PetSmart yesterday! They are both about 3 or so inches long (pretty mush full-grown, as I've heard), and live in a 55 gallon community tank setup.

These two warmed up to all of the other fish in a heartbeat. The very first night, the two displayed non-stop bouts of acrobatics and streamed around their tank.

These ones are grey, not striped. Strangely enough, I've never actually seen a 'rainbow' kuhli before, save for one exteremly small one almost a year back.

Who else has kuhlis and would be willing to share some words of wisdom?

Also, how big do these guys get? I've heard generally 4 inches or so, but I've seen pics of kuhlis that were almost five inches or so.

petsmart? really!? what part of the country are you located? i hope my petsmart stocks'm

Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The PetSmart I have is generally new.

You might want to have a look through our species index under 'Pangio species' so that you can ID your fish and read up on their requirements.

Emma

Yes, it is a Pangio Oblonga, or the chocolate/java loach.

My two kuhlis have established very well. Yes, I know they work better in groups of three or more, but these two seem like a good pair (I've learned to take everything with a grain of salt).

The water temp is good ( 76-78 ) as well.

These guys are even more likely to go missing than other loaches. If they dissapear for an unusual amount of time, check the filter. Mine love exploring all the interesting loach-shredding bits of equipment inside the filter and vacuum.

No fish can get in my filter, even if they tried. To small of areas to squeeze into, really.

Lol, at PetSmart, they had Dojos that were getting into the interconnected filters and ending up in other tanks.

Fear_The_Loach wrote: (I've learned to take everything with a grain of salt).

Well that may, or may not be a good idea, depending on who you are listening to.

You've come to Loaches Online for help, and as this is a specialist site with dedicated loach hobbyists here that have the combined experience of many decades with this particular group of fish, you'd do well to take our advice on board.

Emma

No fish can get in my filter, even if they tried. To small of areas to squeeze into, really.

That's what you think!

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?p=47337

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=5778

I covered the filter intake with a sponge, so there are NO gaps. So, of course, my squiggly little geniuses got in through the waterfall-style output!

I knew they were social, but its kinda strange that they always try to commit suicide with eachother, they never go in alone...

YES!!!! I've been trying to get my avatar up for 3 weeks now! I did it! woohhoo! !! Sorry about that...

Fear_The_Loach wrote:My two kuhlis have established very well. Yes, I know they work better in groups of three or more, but these two seem like a good pair

Add two more! If you know that more will work better then why not make their life better! At times i don't understand you people!

My intake filter is covered, and only holes the width of a toothpick show.

I would add more, but, alas, there are no more. Hopefully they get more in, which they said they would.

Ahhh............ the old "the only ones left in the lfs" story.

Bummer!

I had 2 P. oblonga for about 5 years, the only holdovers from a period of little activity in my fishroom. Last year I added 4 more and gave them a new setup with live plants and a V. maasi roommate. While I always enjoyed them after adding the new gang they have been immensely more entertaining. My hopes are that some day I may discover some tiny black creatures that look like worms but are really baby loaches in the tank. If I can find some more V. maasi it will be moved and I will have a true species only tank.
Enjoy your new loaches and I hope you can add some more in the future!

I shall hunt for more. They are cheap fish, and I shall get at least two if I find them.