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There was a short write-up in either in TFH or Aquarium Fish Magazine about these problems with kuhlis not long ago. I've looked thru my copies a bunch of times but can't find it ]:|

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I agree with the above. So the way I figure it if there not going to make it then there is nothing you can do anyway. Sofar I am 5 out of 6 on the survival rate, not bad. I was also told by one LFS to just dump them in as quickly as possible. This has also worked with everything else in the tank including ottos.

After searching through my fish magazine I finally found a short column about the problems with kuhlis.

Apparently the fish rarely arrive in good shape, many develop bloody patches and buoyancy problems. Unfortunately the survival rate is very low so many dealers have stopped ordering them. Medicines don't seem to help the affected fish so a virus is suspected.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I am thinking about getting a few for my 30 gallon to give it a try. The LFS has some black ones last week. If they are still there and healthy I may pick up a 6 pack.

FreeBlaze

I bought 1 Black Kuhli in December 2004, and 2 in January 2005. They've been very healthy. Same lfs, but different batches.

well, kuhli are deffinatally not the hardiest fish, so it's a bad idea not to acclimate them

Daka<<<<

I don't acclimate my kuhlis. I just poor them into a net and get them in the tank as quickly as possible. I had an otto disapear like that.

yea, all my kuhlis always die, except for one, i started out just getting one (i now know they need groups) so i decided to get him 3 friends, well, these loaches had been fine in the store for around a week now, i bought 3, and set them up using a drip system for acclimation, i let them acclimate for around 2-3hrs, and then added them to the tank, well, something went wrong, within 3 days, the 3 new loaches were dead ], and the one i had all along was no where to be found, i checked in the roots of the plants, under the sponge, in the filter (don't ask y), stirred the gravel, looked under all the rocks, et cetra, it's as if he vanished , i just don't know y, no matter how many, or when i get them, they always die, i've tried restarting with more loaches, but they always die ]:|

Daka<<<<

I bought 3 more to put in my tank. Already lost 1? and can only find 1 other. There are now or should be 5 kuhlis in the tank. They have alot of hiding places.

I saw some Kuhli's in New Orleans on the way home. They were black kuhlis. I did not pick any up because they were delivered to the petshop like 2 hours before I arrived. I will stop off next week and if they survived I may pick up a 6 pack and see how they make it. I did pick up 2 more YoYo's.

FreeBlaze

My LFS has at least a dozen in three to four seperate tanks, that is 12 pur tank and they all look healthy. The largest one I saw was about 2 1/2 inches long. I am getting three more this weekend.

Yeah I had them for years. I have not bought any in the last 5 years or better. The one batch I did buy was wiped out in 48 hours. Once again I am very skeptical about buying any from the LFS's around New Orleans because if I find one that has stock they are sickly and others refuse to buy them. I would like to have 5-10 of them in either of my bigger tanks. Its disappointing..

FreeBlaze

I can confirm that some of the recent (in the last few months) shipments of kuhlis don't seem to be hardy, at least at my work. Of three batches, at least sixty-five percent of all the kuhlis died. There may have been more, but it is hard to keep track with all of the customers that buy them. Despite their recent non-hardiness, they are still quite popular fish.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I was curious.. So many people were telling me that the Kuhli's spawns last year were sickly. I bought 12 last year and they all died. I babied them like you wouldnt believe when introducing them into the tank. I know the history of the fish. Anyone with any word on this years batch? People tell me they are hard to breed and they import them from the wild. Some of last years had some sort of rare fungus out breaks I heard as well. Most of the LFS's around me refused to carry them because of the massive deaths.

FreeBlaze

Last edited by freeblaze at 07-Apr-2005 16:14

I'd advise anyone picking up Kuhlii Loaches to check the provenance before buying. My LFS recently bought a batch of 20 to sell, and they all expired within 48 hours. Needless to say my LFS is not a happy bunny as a result.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

No idea on the current 'batch' avaliable, but I've had 6 for about 3 years now.

That's a great shot I just love their faces!

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

LOL Theresa. Looks like our khulis have like minds. Mine hang out there all the time.

I love loaches and kuhlis are my favorites It's funny because I had wanted a bottom feeder for my first tank and decided to let the spouse choose something. He ended up at the kuhli tank and my first thought was 'eewwww', I really really don't like snakes or worms and that's what they reminded me of.

I now have 7 Some striped, some black. I'm fortunate that mine are active during the day. They absolutely love the bubble wall. Hysterical to watch when they're just messing around and look like a tangled up ball of dark spaghetti. And they have such wise-looking faces.

This is one of my favorite kuhli pics. In our old apartment my 29g was on a half wall, so I could view the back. At the time I was working nights and while in the kitchen before work one day this is what I saw. I thought it was dead but turned out it was just sleeping


Theresa_M attached this image:


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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

your probably never going to see them, unless you get like 10 of them.

I havent seen the kuhlii loaches in my 55g tank for a few months now.