Loach Only Tank?

[Genesis]

i have a spare 15 gallon tank (60 litres) and id like to set it up as a loach only tank

im especially in love with khuli loaches, but how many loaches could i fit in?

and which ones go together?

 

[Lateral Line]

Kuhli's are just about the only loach you could keep in there. They stay small enough for you to keep a group of 4. Other loaches in sufficient numbers to be happy would overstock that tank.

 

[Genesis]

apparently they prefer groups of about 5?

 

[Teelie]

In a 15, I'd say no more than maybe 12. Kuhlis are a slender, shoaling fish that don't mind bunching up together and are happy to share space (a good size group will often turn into a "ball" of kuhlis playing or mating, whatever it is they do in those cases) so you can slide a little more with their numbers than other fish but you'll want to keep up with water changes and have adequate hiding places for them. The more the better. I would suggest at least 5 different caves, thick plant bunches or worm-ridden wood to accomodate them. They seem to be more active with the larger number of hiding places and sometimes move from one location to the next.

 

[Genesis]

say 10?

 

[Genesis]

and id quite like some abino corys too, how many if i meixed them?

 

[mikev]

Actually, there is at least one other choice: Schistura (common name:Burmese-Border Sand Loach). I have six Schistura poculi coexisting with Khulis and other loaches in a larger tank, and they are most certainly fun to watch too. Schistura max size is only 2in.

 

[Genesis]

meh, a school of tetras?

 

[mikev]

[quote name=''genesis' post='991546' date='Dec 2 2005, 03:21 PM']
meh, a school of tetras?
[/quote]

Why not? But since your tank is not that big and you want at least 4 khulis (6 better), go for smaller tetras.

 

[Genesis]

5 neons (small tetras) and a betta?
or do neons need a bigger shoal?

 

[_Cal_]

Wait didnt you have a thread in tropical chit chat and you had an overstocked tank and this tank was to help make things better for the fish?

 

[Genesis]

nope, im currently overstocked in my 15 gallon

im getting a 50gal to put the current fish in

then i will have a 15 gallon spare

 

[OohFeeshy]

I'd say go for 10 khulis and 6 small tetras only. A good setup (ehich I've found mine like) is sand bottom, with about half the tank covered in pebbles (like you get at the beach). They love to hide in them and it gives them somewhere to root around in the gaps for food. Woodworks well, they hide under that, and dense planting (like java moss) gives them cover.

 

[mikev]

I'd say go for 10 khulis and 6 small tetras only. A good setup (ehich I've found mine like) is sand bottom, with about half the tank covered in pebbles (like you get at the beach).

Second this (my setup too). Artificial plants are fine too, they hide in them.

As for how many: 10+6 would probably work, but this really an upper limit. I would not apply 1in=1gallon rule to khulis -- with their low activity and body mass, count them as 1"-1.5", but even then you might be pushing it.