Pygmi Cory's Vs Kuhli Loaches

[benjoey]

Hi I was thinking of adding kuhli loaches to my 120 L community tank, however I have read alot of info saying that they are barely active and hide alot in a tank, so I had a look for an alternative, I like the look of the pygmi cory's (Any of the three different pygmi species). I think I would prefer the pygmi cory's because they are reportedly more accurate, but would like some advice thanks.

I have harlequin rasboras in the tank an also some mopani wood.

 

[Ben M]

hi, i voted other. personally, i'd get some kuhlis and some corys, but not the pygmy corys, i'd go for something a bit bigger. i have kuhli loaches, and they are active, constantly sifting through the sand, which is fun to watch. when i first got them, they didn't come out much for the first few weeks, but after a while they got more active. i got 6 at first, then added another 6, which definitely made them more active. i would get about 10 kuhlis.

i would go for either panda corys or C. trilineatus, but that's just personal preference. make sure you get at least 6 so they are more active, and get all of the same species, as they prefer to be with their own species. i think that the panda's may be better for you, as they are active, and quite small, and great fun to watch. however, i don't see a problem with getting the pygmy corys. they are really cool, and swim around the middle of the tank more, instead of nearly always being a the bottom like the other corys. i'd get a bigger shoal if you were getting the pygmys, as they are smaller so you can fit more in the tank, and the more you get, the happier they'll be.

what substrate do you have? as both corys and kuhlis much prefer sand, but will be ok with small rounded gravel. however, you shouldn't keep them if you have sharp gravel, as it can injure them.

 

[benjoey]

forgot to say that I have sand substrate, I did initially want to get kuhli loaches so I could keep all SE Asian species, but I am thinking more active cory's would be better.

I was thinking maybe:
8 or 12 harlequin rasboras
10 kuhli loaches
10 pygmy corydoras

How does that sound I thought having pygmy cory's wich will not spend all there time on the bottom would balance the fish in different levels of the aquarium. I think this stocking may be too much for the tank though. Here is a pic of the tank:

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I'm currently waiting to get a reply from wholesale tropicals about their Indian Redtail Squirrel Loach regarding activity and other details. I'll let you know when I hear anything.

 

[crazychris]

Hi. I'd get a group of cories. I've had 3 kuhlies for years and never see them. I know they're still alive though and have doubled in thickness, as I see them when I hoover the gravel during water changes. They bury themselves completely. On rare occasions you can just see a bit of the head, two eyes poking out.

 

[kelly528]

Personally I have never had much luck with pygmy cories (corydoras pygmaeus). Littlecamy would agree! They are quite delicate and despite my best efforts they would slowly die off over a span of months. Never found out why. Just every once in a while a body would turn up.

Anyways I know kuhlis are reputedly quite shy in nature and are active mainly at night. It will help that you have some driftwood for them to hide under. Also, if you get a legit school (6 or more) they will be a little bolder. Then there are always giant kuhlis, which may be easier to see when hanging out under the rocks and driftwood.

 

[Ben M]

Hi. I'd get a group of cories. I've had 3 kuhlies for years and never see them. I know they're still alive though and have doubled in thickness, as I see them when I hoover the gravel during water changes. They bury themselves completely. On rare occasions you can just see a bit of the head, two eyes poking out.

hi, mine never bury themselves. they dig in the open foreground i have for them, but only a centimetre or so to look for food. they occasionally go under the bogwood, but most of the time they are either swimming in the plants or sifting sand at the front. you probably don't see yours because you don't have enough. if you up the numbers to around 10 ish, then they'll come out a lot, especially in a planted tank. the will much prefer a planted tank.

cheers

 

[synodontismultipunctatus]

i barely saw my khulis ... the cories on the other hand are much more playful

 

[Harlequins]

I would go with 6 or more corys,there are some fab ones out there to choose from

I also have pygmys that i had in my 55 gal and hardly saw them,so i moved them to their own tank and they started breeding

Perhaps you could have a centre piece fish,gourami or something ?

Your tank looks fab by the way

 

[james_fish]

I put Cory's only because I want some myself.

James.

 

[benjoey]

I think it will have to be cories then and a couple of gouramies. I was thinking honey gouramies and panda cory's. so i'm now thinking of 12 x harlequin rasboras, 6 or more panda cory's and a male and female honey gourami. I think I would keep kuhli loaches if had another tank but as its my only tank I would rather something I would see lol

 

[Ben M]

sounds great. it should look really good.