Question about loaches in a small tank and more.

[Playfulloach]

Ok...Here's my story.

Ok, so I have this small tank setup which housed a female betta and decided to get more fish.
Did some online research and thinking, came up deciding that I wanted to keep a group of kuhli loaches. Used to have a single kuhli loach as a child in a shared tank and was excited to keep them again.
I got a group of kuhli loaches and everything seemingly went well for about two days, then one of the loaches swam around erractically breathing heavily and keeled over dead.

That was about a week ago now and I have been unable to determine what killed that loach. The most I've seen at one time has been four so I presume another died or has been in hiding. I added the sponge filter thinking it would help with the breathing problems until they recovered from whatever illness they may have. Do not want to medicate unless I have a specific diagnosis.

My questions:
I'm trying to find a practical way to cap off my internal filter outtake and was thinking of using a piece of a commercial sponge. Safe for them?.
Because they were breathing problems involved I have continued to run this filter despite possible risk.

I got the kuhli loaches with the understanding they were ok in a ten gal..Later info said they need a larger tank. Since I am restricted by housing regulations, I can't just upgrade because I don't want to be evicted. Please keep in mind that if someone told me they needed a larger tank before I got them, I won't have bought them.I have a a thirty gal in the other room which I use for storage since I'm not allowed to set it up.

So, wondering when they will outgrow my tank?...Then my options will be:
- Rehome them.
- Set up that thirty gal and risk landlord trouble.
- Relocate them to my parent's house into a 55 gal where they will be living in semi - neglect and checked on an average of a weekly basis for a few minutes. .

Still trying to determine what killed one/two? of them so I don't lose any more. They continue to look healthy and be quite active and playful.
So far I'm thinking that it was temp/shock related as it was a hot day after I got them and my tank is weather influenced.

Tank details:
Twenty gal half filled.
Heavily planted with wandering jenny and a sword plant.
Well lit, keeps my plants alive.
PH 7.4
Temps room temp for the summer, sometimes 80F.
Currently four or five kuhli loaches, betta removed for quarantine reasons.
Loaches are fed freeze dried tubiflex worms, blood worms and once frozen brine shrimp.
Filter: fluval internal filter and sponge filter.

Tested the water for nitrites after the one died and found it to be ideal water conditions range.

[loachmom]

Hi Playfulloach and welcome to LOL,

I'm sorry that your kuhli died. Kuhlis are known to not ship very well, and some times they die after you get them home. I'd think that your remaining kuhlis should be fine since they are still alive.
Here is a link to a thread about kuhlis that talks some about kuhli shipping syndrome.
Click Here

Enjoy your loaches!

[mikev]

Hi,

Unfortunately, what happened with your kuhli is very typical. This is the way new kuhlis often die. I agree with loachmom that you are probably out of the woods now.

I don't think you have a risk of them outgrowing the tank. 20g is fine for 4-5 kuhlis. Depending on species, they will grow to 2.5"-4" size, but more likely you have most of them already full-grown. Since kuhli's are one counterexample to the inch/gallon rule, you can even add some small dither (1" size animals) to make the tank look more interesting.

If you add some plants (maybe they are there already), kuhlis will very happy.

I also doubt that extra O2 is needed at this point, but if it is, the best way is a lowered down water level with an HOB. I'd also go with HOB rather than internal filter...more air, less risk: kuhlis are pretty good in getting inside filters.. also if you ever need to, HOB is more convenient since you can put various filter packs in it.

One thing I wonder about:

Tested the water for nitrites after the one died and found it to be ideal water conditions range.

Should test for ammonia too. For kuhlis, IME ammonia is much more deadly than nitrites.

hth