Khulis in a 10G tank?

[mistergreen]

I just redesigned my 10G breeding tank... My batch of betta has grown and I'm looking at khulis. They're cute to me and they look pretty smart.

here's the tank


Oh, this is a natural planted tank btw.. Meaning there's a layer of potting soil in the bottom. Any risk of the khulis digging & making a mess?

[Mark in Vancouver]

10g is a bit small, IMO. Remember, you want to keep these fish in groups, and though that's a beautiful looking tank, it might be better suited to a small group of tetras or something. I would suggest a minimum tank size of twice what you have here for kuhlis.

Kuhlis (some species, and to varying degrees) do burrow into the substrate. I'd be looking for a fine substrate, but without soil beneath.

If that attractive tank were mine, I'd look for some low growing grassy plants and turn it into a richly planted tank a la Amano. You seem to have a knack for aquatic plants.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/plant ... rting.html

[Emma Turner]

Very nice looking tank, mistergreen, although I think it is a bit on the small side, even for a group of kuhlis.

Not all species of Pangio seem to bury right into the sand/gravel, but those long thin species such as P. anguillaris and P. doriae will submerge themselves in the substrate completely at times.

Emma

[mikev]

I kept 3 kuhlis in a tank like this (well, not as attractive, but the same essentials) for a few months. While the experiment failed (they did not breed), they were probably the happiest kuhlis I had...they made full use of the tank and were not bothered by the dither at all (rasboras).

If mistergreen's idea is really to try breeding, I'd suggest getting black kuhlis (P.Oblonga). The chances of success are higher, and they are also smaller.

[Martin Thoene]

I kept 3 kuhlis in a tank like this (well, not as attractive, but the same essentials) for a few months. While the experiment failed (they did not breed), they were probably the happiest kuhlis I had...they made full use of the tank and were not bothered by the dither at all (rasboras).

If mistergreen's idea is really to try breeding, I'd suggest getting black kuhlis (P.Oblonga). The chances of success are higher, and they are also smaller.

Mike, rasboras are highlty effective egg and fry predators so keeping them in a supposed breeding attempt tank is not a good idea.
Pangio oblonga have been bred in aquaria but so have other stripey species so there's no greater chance with P. oblonga.
They grow to the same size as most other kuhli species other than P. myersi. As Mark has said, a 20 is a better size as a larger group may be kept which increases the possibilities with breeding and the fishes' general happiness.

Martin.

[mistergreen]

cool, thanks for the tips & compliments...
if I can find small pangios (Pangio cuneovirgata), i'll go for some, otherwise, i'll go for cherry barbs or tetras or something.

and this tank should be 10x better looking when the plants have grown.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Mistergreen, please try and remember to post shots once the plants grow in. I love these tanks.

[mikev]

Martin,

it appears that most of the recent stories (here and seen on other forums) are about Oblonga, and it is probably a less-kept species than striped. Not enough stats, just a feeling that the chances with Oblonga are higher. Besides, with striped kuhlis it is possible to mis-identify the species, and I think this is what happened in my case (the female might have been Myersi). Among mine, Oblonga's are shorter than most non-Myersi kuhlis.

If I were to do this again (one day), I'll definitely go for a larger tank and a larger population...I'm having a feeling that only some males are into this, so without having several, the exercise is pointless.

And of course, you are right about the rasbora's, but way too many other things were done wrong for that to get to the point where rasboras would matter....I would have removed them if I saw any encouraging behavior, never happened.