Coolie Loaches

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

I am planning a 26 gallon US tall tank, and I would like something eel-like, because I find it very interesting and have never had anything like it before. I understand Coolie (Kuhili?) loaches stay small, probably small enough for a 26 gallon. I think I remember reading that they like to have friends, though.

What are they like? Do they just stay hidden all the time, or do they come out and play some? I will have sand substrate because I know they like to burrow. I am planning on having some corydoras (maybe 4 or 5 peppered). Would they have problems because they would compete for space? The tank is l-30 inches, w-12 inches, h-23 inches, so floor space is limited.

The other fish I am considering for the tank are one blue gourami, a school of danios, the corydoras, and possibly a school of harliquin rasborosas.

The tank will not have live plants. I am planning on using silk plants and driftwood to crate hiding places and an interesting environment.

Will the loaches feed on flake food and bloodworms? Thats normally what I feed. I don't want to feed live food.

Any other advice about them would be appreciated. If there is something else I should get instead (a different kind of loach?) Like how many should I get, etc., would be appreciated.

Advice would be appreciated, but also just your experiences with these loaches. Did you find them interesting? I have never had anything like them, so I would like to hear other people's experiences.

 

[n3ont3tra]

What you have sounds fine for kuhlie loaches. I had 3 full grown kuhlies and they came out occasionally. Recently I rearranged the decor and switched to sand, and they've been much more active. In general, the more you have, the better, they'll come out more often. Also, if you have lots of caves and hiding places, they'll come out even more often. I know that doesn't sound logical, but it's true. I have mine with 5 panda cories and they don't even notice each other.

 

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

What you have sounds fine for kuhlie loaches. I had 3 full grown kuhlies and they came out occasionally. Recently I rearranged the decor and switched to sand, and they've been much more active. In general, the more you have, the better, they'll come out more often. Also, if you have lots of caves and hiding places, they'll come out even more often. I know that doesn't sound logical, but it's true. I have mine with 5 panda cories and they don't even notice each other.

Sounds great! Do you think I need to worry about the gourami eating them? I know they stay pretty small and the gourami gets pretty big.

How many do you think I should get? I don't want to overstock my tank, but from my reading (yes, I use the search function to *try* to ask less questions!) it seems that they don't add too much bioload? How about 6 loaches?

 

[MegTheFish]

Your right, they don't add much to the bioload. 6 would be a good number, you could even add more, I currently have 7 and I never see all 7 out at one time but I always see atleast a couple, the more the merrier with them!

 

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

Your right, they don't add much to the bioload. 6 would be a good number, you could even add more, I currently have 7 and I never see all 7 out at one time but I always see atleast a couple, the more the merrier with them!

Well thats cool! I might get a few, and maybe bump the numbers up once I see what they are like.

About how expensive do they tend to be?

 

[dmarie04]

Your right, they don't add much to the bioload. 6 would be a good number, you could even add more, I currently have 7 and I never see all 7 out at one time but I always see atleast a couple, the more the merrier with them!

Well thats cool! I might get a few, and maybe bump the numbers up once I see what they are like.

About how expensive do they tend to be?

They have black khuli loaches at the LPS I go to the most for only $1.49 a peice. Cute little buggers. I plan on getting some once I get my big tank all set up, cycled, and settled in