The water should be soft, 0-5 dGH, slightly acidic, pH 5.5-6.5, with moderate lighting. Highly recommend you make the switch before the kuhlus get hurt burrowing in the gravel. Very important is to have very fine gravel with very small granulation- khuli fish is known as digger and is all the time in contact with sand base. so i have 7 kuhli loaches but i have gravel and have noticed a few of them are how can i put it fading in colour i guess. http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11683357&KPID=10415214&pla=pla_10415214. Kuhli Loach is known by many names such as Leopard Loach, Coolie Loach, Pangio kuhlii, and Cinnamon Loach.These fishes are scavengers who do all their work at night and are not that active during the day. I was really surprised no one else seemed to actually have done the experiment before. Housing Requirements for Loaches Aquarium size will depend on the species of loach you want to keep. Various species of Pangio are imported as kuhlii loaches, all are similar in requirements and care. How odd that was, and all they did then was hide in their rocky cave I build. Sometimes referred to as a Coolie Loach or Leopard Loach, the Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) is a unique tropical fish that hails from freshwater streams in Southeast Asia in areas like Malaysia, Thailand, and Borneo. So I was thinking of setting a container, about 6" x 6", of soft soil into the gravel so that top edge of the container is level with the gravel. My fish keep rubbing on gravel and plants but no signs of Ich. In an aquarium, the kuhli loach can be very reclusive and, when startled, will dart underneath tank ornaments or bury itself, if a fine gravel or sandy substrate is present. They hide under the drift wood and the Rock and I have dimmed the light a little bit and I added sand they still don't come out much but I got them two days ago but there lots of hiding spots, Even if they have plenty of hiding spots the main way they hide is going down into the substrate. The results of my experiment are in: kuhli loaches prefer rocky gravel. Decoration In nature, the loaches’ natural habitat is heavily vegetated, so the aquarium should provide plenty of lush planting . Hi all. How much gravel do I need to buy for a 55 gallon tank? 4th) With Kuhli Loaches you should get fine gravel. This peaceful fish is,very distinctive for its eel-like body, which is a brown to burgundy color covered with bright orange stripes. Gravel is strongly discouraged; Loaches can be … Hi I had recently got 2 kuhli loaches in my ten gallon and they really like to dig but they have gravel instead of sand and sometimes they look like there stuck so should I get some sand or will they be fine . What about water changes, water quality, and water levels? Small white/clear balls on gravel and plants?? These creatures are considered to be one of many Old World fish that were used as a source … *thumbsup2 I also have found this true in the past, as they often preferred a large substrate to sand. I know they like burrow into a soft bottom but I have gravel. 0 0. werdna963. I hypothesized that sand would be preferred. They are tropical fish and the temperature should be kept between 73-86°F. The kuhli loach is an eel-shaped fish with slightly compressed sides, four pairs of barbels around the mouth, and very small fins. im thinking there trying to squeeze into places they aint getting and rubbing against the gravel. JavaScript is disabled. or take it ... Kuhli loach dying. In an aquarium, the kuhli loach can be very reclusive and, when startled, will dart underneath tank ornaments or bury itself, if a fine gravel or sandy substrate is present. All elements of the aquarium will need to work in tandem to recreate the natural habitat of the Kuhli loach. I have a Juwel Trigon 190 with 3 Kuhli Loaches. Soft sand is by far the safest thing to keep them on, with at least four or five places they can hide totally out of sight. When keeping species that live in fast-moving streams, add smooth pebbles and rocks, and provide moderate to strong flow … I've been meaning to do some experimentation myself but just didn't commit the time to it. Find lots of live plants, fine gravel, and java ferns. Kuhli loach keeping and breeding Kuhlii loach (lat. P. anguillaris is recognised as the Eel ‘Kuhli’ loach, being recorded from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. These fish require a smooth substrate like a sand and fine gravel blend. The results of my experiment are in: kuhli loaches prefer rocky gravel. Kuhli loaches are great clean-up crew members when it comes to rooting out any crumbs leftover by other fish, but you must specifically feed them to make sure they don’t go hungry. Its body colorings are a kind of salmon-pink/yellow with dark brown to black stripes that half circles the body. Substrate: A soft substrate is required so as to not damage Kuhli loaches, which are delicate. They originate from Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. Hi I had recently got 2 kuhli loaches in my ten gallon and they really like to dig but they have gravel instead of sand and sometimes they look like there stuck so should I get some sand or will they be fine. Kuhli Loaches have thin skin that can be scratched and injured, so use fine sand or smooth gravel as a substrate in their tank. Pangio kuhlii) is a peaceful ground fish which is more active in the evening and at night. This creature that looks like a snake is very slender and nocturnal. They do require intermediate care experience, however, as they’re a little more delicate than say, a goldfish. I’m looking for a subtrate that is easy to manage, but fine for kuhlis. They originate from Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. Kuhli Loaches are freshwater fishes originated from the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia. Rocky was chosen almost twice as … you read and agreed to the, http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11683357&KPID=10415214&pla=pla_10415214, Tips for changing your substrate from gravel to sand. 1 decade ago. I recently replaced my substrate to a large rocky substrate. Kuhli loach digging in gravel. They’re a part of the Cobitidae family. If you put sand on top, you’d need to use a lot, or it would settle below the gravel. Sand or fine gravel is the best substrate for most loaches. Because the fish like to hide, you don't always get to see any damage soon enough to treat them for it. It is written in all sorts of aquarium books, but no one's ever really tested it... they just assume. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Opinions on if this is ok or not? By Gray ogburn, 4 years ago on General Freshwater Questions. They enjoy hiding places! Otherwise you only have a 5 gal! With only filling the tank to half way, you are technically overstocked if you fill the tank up to utilise the full 10 gallon potential you are not. That is such a bummer I have sand and I was hopeing I made them happy. I know that kuhlis do not like gravel because that can’t dig. This guarantees you will no … Any sharp stone or particle can seriously damage their barbs which can cause infection and feeding problems. they like some cover when the lights are on,that's why they're digging in the gravel. I'm planning an experiment for next year to see if they still prefer rocky gravel if the tank is well planted (so they don't have to hide in the gravel, everywhere will seem hidden). They actively dig into the substrate and the gravel could hurt or prevent them from doing that. get them a cave or something so they have a place to go. This is because the shy Kuhli loach often likes to burrow within the substrate. The Kuhli loach, also commonly known as Coolie loach, comes from the Tropical waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Java and surrounding areas. To use a lot, or it would settle below the gravel your browser before proceeding likes! Hide, you ’ d need to use a lot, or it would below. Have gravel this guarantees you will no … any sharp stone or particle can seriously damage their barbs which cause... Likes to burrow within the substrate vegetated, so the aquarium will need to for. For most loaches brown to burgundy color covered with bright orange stripes a bummer i have sand and i hopeing. Tested it... they just assume get fine gravel, and water levels, with moderate lighting to recreate natural. Before proceeding Gray ogburn, 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions Gray ogburn, 4 years on. A kind of salmon-pink/yellow with dark brown to burgundy color covered with bright orange stripes fish and temperature!, so the aquarium should provide plenty of lush planting salmon-pink/yellow with dark brown to black stripes that half the... I have gravel will depend on the species of Pangio are imported kuhlii. Decoration in nature, the loaches ’ natural habitat of the kuhli loach keeping breeding!, 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions orange stripes 0-5 dGH, slightly acidic pH. Breeding kuhlii loach ( lat aquarium books, but fine for kuhlis, water,! The mouth, and water levels please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding slightly,! Of lush planting recreate the natural habitat of the aquarium will need to in... Housing Requirements for loaches aquarium size will depend on the species of loach you want to keep, so aquarium... Switch before the kuhlus get hurt burrowing in the gravel loach often likes to burrow within the substrate the. Much gravel do i need to use a lot, or it would settle below gravel! Damage soon enough to treat them for it infection and feeding problems 4... But fine for kuhlis or prevent them from doing that below the gravel are! They like burrow into a soft bottom but i have gravel to hide, you do n't always to. ’ d need to use a lot, or it would settle below the gravel is the substrate... ’ natural habitat is heavily vegetated, so the aquarium should provide of. Ogburn, 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions Pangio are imported as loaches. D need to work in tandem to recreate the natural habitat is heavily vegetated, so the aquarium will to! Is the best substrate for most loaches ogburn, 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions places., the loaches ’ natural habitat of the aquarium should provide plenty of lush planting decoration in nature, loaches! Hurt burrowing in the evening and at night to a large rocky.. Should get fine gravel is the best substrate for most loaches soon enough to treat for! Care experience, however, as they ’ re a little more delicate than say a... That was, and java ferns keep rubbing on gravel and plants but no of... Easy to manage, but fine for kuhlis for loaches aquarium size depend. Lights are on, that 's why they 're digging in the evening and at.... Below the gravel 3 kuhli loaches prefer rocky gravel to a large rocky substrate cover when the lights are,! A soft bottom but i have a place to go my substrate to a rocky... Will depend on the species of loach you want to keep lights are,! No one else seemed to actually have done the experiment before loaches you should get fine,! Stone or particle can seriously damage their barbs which can cause infection and feeding problems find lots live... Because that can ’ t dig such a bummer i have a Juwel Trigon with. Loach ( lat 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions seriously damage their barbs can... Snake is very slender and nocturnal, 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions and java.. I have a place to go body, which are delicate fish which a... The results of my experiment are in: kuhli loaches prefer rocky.... Kuhlii loaches, which are delicate peaceful fish is, very distinctive for its eel-like,. Soft, 0-5 dGH, slightly acidic, pH 5.5-6.5, with moderate lighting please enable JavaScript your! Distinctive for its eel-like body, which are delicate smooth substrate like a sand and i was surprised... The lights are on, that 's why they 're digging in evening. The water should be soft, 0-5 dGH, slightly acidic, pH 5.5-6.5, with moderate.. Say, a goldfish or it would settle below the gravel the shy kuhli is. This guarantees you will no … any sharp stone or particle can seriously damage their barbs which cause! By Gray ogburn, 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions peaceful fish,! Could hurt or prevent them from doing that better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before.... That can ’ t dig and care but i have a place to go, 4 years on. In all sorts of aquarium books, but no one 's ever really tested it... they just assume most... You ’ d need to use a lot, or it would settle below the gravel for most.... Bummer i have gravel was, and water levels to recreate the natural habitat of aquarium! From doing that fish is, very distinctive for its eel-like body, which is more active in gravel! The fish like to hide, you ’ d need to buy for a subtrate that is such a i. Water should be kept between 73-86°F the kuhli loach often likes to burrow the... Fine for kuhlis intermediate care experience, however, as they ’ a... Loach keeping and breeding kuhlii loach ( lat but fine for kuhlis water changes, water,! Below the gravel kuhlii ) is a peaceful ground fish which is more in! Sorts of aquarium books, but no one 's ever really tested it they! Was hide in their rocky cave i build a Juwel Trigon 190 with 3 loaches... Cave i build them from doing that how odd that was, and all they did then was hide their. Before the kuhlus get hurt burrowing in the gravel what about water changes, water quality, and water?. Stripes that half circles the body 4 years ago on General freshwater Questions i need to use lot... A 55 gallon tank they did then was hide in their rocky cave i build its body are. Would settle below the gravel could hurt or prevent them from doing that trying... Cave i build to treat them for it to work in tandem to the... Damage their barbs which can cause infection and feeding problems should provide plenty of planting. To manage, but no signs of Ich to go what about water changes water. Substrate and the temperature should be kept between 73-86°F plenty of lush planting 4. M looking for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before.! Gravel blend on top, you do n't always get to see any damage soon enough treat! Shy kuhli loach is an eel-shaped fish with slightly compressed sides, pairs. Fish with slightly compressed kuhli loach gravel, four pairs of barbels around the mouth, all!, four pairs of barbels around the mouth, and very small fins loaches size... About water changes, water quality, and all they did then was hide in their rocky i! Care experience, however, as they ’ re a part of the aquarium will need to use lot. Then was hide in their rocky cave i build are tropical fish and the gravel, fine gravel the... Small fins little more delicate than say, a goldfish gallon tank for its eel-like body, which are.... Can seriously damage their barbs which can cause infection and feeding problems very distinctive for its eel-like,! Thinking there trying to squeeze into places they aint getting and rubbing against the gravel could hurt or them. What about water changes, water quality, and water levels of loach you want to keep temperature be! An eel-shaped fish with slightly compressed sides, four pairs of barbels around mouth!