Kuhlie Loach Breeding

[n3ont3tra]

Okay, as some of you know, around February I found some baby black kuhlie loaches in my undergravel filter... well, they're my favorite fish now, so I've decided I'd like to breed them. I no longer have a UGF but I still have the six kuhile loaches and I can tell the males from females if they stay still. I notice that the females often have eggs (you can tell because they're belly gets fat and green) but I've never seen any around the tanks, on the plants or in the moss or anything. But I would love to breed them, so my plan is this. I'll get a small tank (probably about ten gallons) with an undergravel filter and HOB filter. I'll clone it, put some gravel in there and some flat rocks like I had in my 29g when they bred before. I'll put all 6 kuhlies in there, no other fish, with some plants and moss and everything. Feed them live foods and stuff, and pretty much just look for eggs everyday.... The tough part will be catching them from the 29g. I have lots of tanks I could put any babies in them, and filters and everything for them... All I'd have to buy is the UGF... which I'm not sure is totally nessesary, because the females have eggs now, and it's probably just the other fish that ate them before.

Do you think it's worth it, catching them and all? I know my lfs will take any babies, especially 'cause black kuhlies aren't all that common. I know my plan isn't all that special, but with them in they're own tank I'll probably give them way more attention, and it'll be easier to look for eggs.

I'll probably do a few other tricks, like large water changes, etc to replicate where they live. If anyone has any suggestions or concerns tell me. I'll keep this thread updated. But don't get your hopes up...

 

[adam_s_101]

You might as well give it a shot. I've never kept any kuhlie loach and dont know alot about them, but i really do like them. keep us updated and good luck!

 

[n3ont3tra]

Thanks.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Okay well I set it up with the same type of gravel that I had before, but no ugf. I also put a small powerhead in there, and of course a heater and mature filter media. I put some java moss in there and some slate, and a few floating fake plants. Then I caught the kuhlies without too much trouble and moved them in. They seem really happy, they're swimming around a lot!

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Next time, possibly try a breeding mat? I think they are egg scatterers as most loaches seem to be.

 

[n3ont3tra]

What is a breeding mat? I know they are egg scatterers, but I've read they lay on floating plants.

 

[adam_s_101]

you could try a breeding mat, thats probably not a bad idea. I think for the first try though, you should just keep the set-up simple, just a nice tank for the fish to be in. monitor them alot, then if/when they spawn you will see the way that they do things etc, and refine your set-up for the next time. its your preference though . hope it all goes well for you, will be interesting to follow

 

[n3ont3tra]

What IS a breeding mat? I've heard or traps and nets, but never mats.

 

[adam_s_101]

Not sure if there is a particular thing called a breeding mat as such, but i assume he means a mesh f some sort to allow the eggs to pass through but keep the parents from eating them. A bit like using marbles. I would just keep doing what you're doing and see how it goes, keep it simple and keep an eye on them

 

[n3ont3tra]

I don't think that would help, apparently they lay on floating plants.
Here's a few pics:

Hangin' out in the floating plants.

I love that pic I just wish the gravel wasn't so bright.

 

[helterskelter]

I think i told you about then i breed these about 10 years ago.

Sadily no eggs hatched, but the eggs float at first so are an easy food to any other fish u have, they float for around a hour or two, then they sink.

So if u find the eggs you should be able to net the off the surface with a fine net and the eggs are like you say a vivid bright green.

Good luck and hope u have better luck that my self.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Thanks, I didn't know they sunk, I thought they stuck to the plants. But now I'll know what to look for. Thanks again.

 

[helterskelter]

well mine snank about 30 mins after i found them and i bad a bake tank with just java moss in it, i cant remember the eggs sticking but i just left then to it so never tested.

 

[blue_betta]

i read somewhere that the breeding "trigger" seems to be a drastic change in atmospheric presure. you could perhaps try to coinside a water change with a thunderstorm and see if that has any affect?

 

[n3ont3tra]

Hmm... maybe. We have a weather thing-a-majig and it shows the pressure so it's easy to see when it drops.

Does anyone know if doing a water change with cold water would help? Should I soften the water at all? It's tough to find info on this...