kuhli loaches a good choice ?

[cider]

Hi everyone,
So it has been a few months since I have been able to get back on this site , had to deal with family emergency, all settled now.
Last time I wrote was May and I had just lost my entire fishload including my 2 beautiful 4'' clowns. Many of you were great to answer my questions whenever something popped up and I do appreciate that.

I have been restocking my 54g and will list the new guys below. My question is about kuhli loaches. I really love watching them in the store tanks, and m 54g can't hold anything large,and I don't want to have same fish as before,too depressing after my loss, but I can't help myself with loaches and plecs. So my question is would kuhlis be a good addition and what are their needs, and do they easily get ''ich'' , or bring it in?

the 54g :
11 harlequins
3 longfin leopard danios
3 rams
lots of wood and plants
gravel substrate
lots of hidey places
a-0
ni-0
na-1
ph-6.4
temp 79d
have 1 plec in q-tank which will reach 7'' at maturity, will go in 54g soon

so what do your members think about me adding some kuhlis to the gang?
is sand a must? --- hope not cuz I can't change the substrate now.
Thanks for any views on this. G

[cider]

accidently typed na-1 , meant na-15
also filters: HOTmagnum hob, aquaclear70 , 2 hydrasponges
air stones
will move blue lights/bubble wand from q-tank to bottom of 54g when plec moves . Hope all this helps thanks, G

[starsplitter7]

How would rams do with Kuhlies? I don't know rams well enough to give advice. Kuhlies seldom get in trouble. They are so unassuming.

When I set up a tank with gravel and then added fish that liked sand, I added a tray of sand and buried it even with the gravel. The sand lovers can have their sand, and I didn't have to redo the substrate. My kuhlies don't usually go under the sand, but they have a favorite cave where they all congregate.

If you get Kuhlies, get a bunch of the same species. They do better if they are in a group of their own, and if you have enough space, get two groups of two species, they will also hang. I call the mixed groups friends (two species) and family (same species).

[TayHudson]

I don't have any Kuhli's, but I do have a female ram. She fits in really well with the Yoyo's and Clowns. As active as they have become.

2 yoyo's
4 clowns
3 neon tetras
3 black neon tetras
3 silver tipped tetras
1 pleco

they are all getting along well.
she (the ram) loves to swim along with the loaches when they do their little dance in the evening

[starsplitter7]

I have always wanted to have rams, but I was afraid they would be aggressive when breeding. They are so pretty and nice.

[cider]

thanks everyone, and thanks starsplitter for the sand in tray idea ...i think that will work fine! Guess I won't have to pass them up next trip to the aquarium store! G

[cider]

I have 3, two female and one male , dwarf rams , and they are pretty mellow. One of the females is very friendly, comes to the glass whenever i approach, and the male takes a minute , but he shows up too. It was suggested by aq store to get 1 male/ 2 female ratio and it seems to be working fine, no chasing or nipping, but will '' head butt ''or nudge the other fish out of the way when given shrimp pellets. Not seen mating aggression but have only had them a month. thanks again, G

[Diana]

Rams pair up in twos. Very rarely will they make a three-some. Most often the third one will get chased to death.

I think Kuhlies are a good choice in that tank. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places.

[cider]

I really miss my clowns but I realize I don't have the tank space, as mom just moved in from Fla, so no room for more tanks. It's hard to look at the photos here without recalling my ''late'' clowns personalities.

So ,I love the idea of adding a tray of sand for the kuhlis , but have 2 questions : would 3 or 5 be enough ? and are they prone to ''ich'' as other loaches are ( sorry , but have to ask) thanks , G

[Flotsam&1Jetsom]

I know this might seem like a really daft question to all you experts.... But what is a ram?

Are you refering to the cichlid blue ram?

[TayHudson]

Yes. The Dwarf Cichlid, German Blue Ram, Apistogramma etc. There are a few names for them.

They are quite lovely

[TayHudson]

Or Mikrogeophagus Ramirezi for the German Blue Rams. (Bolivian Rams also)

[Flotsam&1Jetsom]

Oh yeah! they really are quite gorgeous.

[starsplitter7]

Before you get the kuhlies make sure you get rid of the ick. And then wait a few weeks. Or get the kuhlies and put them in your Q tank for a month or more.

[cider]

thanks, i don't have ''ich'' at present , but I wanted to know if they are as prone to getting ich as clowns and other loaches. Yes , of course i will q-tank them , thanks and how many is a good number to keep them happy ?
Thanks , G