"false" Kuhli Loach?

[modernhamlet]

Does anyone know the species name of a loach that doesn't have stripes that gets sold under the name kuhli? I am under the impression that true kuhlis have bands. Is this correct?

I'll try to get a picture and edit it to this post shortly. They are very, very fast.

 

[nightlife20]

iv known them to have two diff names from two diff lfs's

java loach and black kuli loach....


imo they are more active than the ringed type kulis.... i used to have 6 of them flying around my tank.. and they were always out weather it was daytime or night time... where as the ringed ones were always hiding


hth

 

[modernhamlet]

Thanks nightlife. It certainly sounds like like I have black kuhlis as well. They are much more active and "out and about" than I would have expected from what I've read of kuhlis. Not that I'm complaining. They've certainly woken up a fairly sedate tank!

Sorry I couldn't get a pic. The cameraphone just isn't up to the challenge, I'm afraid...

 

[ryan]

Black Kuhli (Pangio javanicus) have similar requirements to the ordinary Kuhli Loach, IME they do grow a little bit larger than your average Kuhli reaching 5-6". They are quite common and appear in the trade quite frequently.

 

[Lateral Line]

There are several species which get called "Kuhli/Coolie" loaches when they hit the shops. For many years Acanthopthalmus semicinctus was far more common then A. kuhli, but they are similaly, and highly variably marked. A. javanicus is almost totally dark coloured, and probably what you have.

The majority of the long thin "wormy" loaches require the same conditions, i.e. clean, not to warm, well oxygenated water. They are adaptable over reasonable pH and hardness ranges, but suffer as the temperature rises and O2 levels drop.

Although none of them would really be classed as schooling fish, they are a gregarious group and you'll see a lot more of them if you keep a number of them, say 6.

A tank with a lot of rock/tree work with caves and hidy holes will suit them well. They have a habit of swimming into anything remotely cave/hole like - keep your filter inlets etc. well covered.

 

[leanne]

I bought 6 banded khuli loaches and the LFS said I would'nt see them very often - however they never stop! They're all over the place.