Kulhi Loach Fact Sheet

The Kuhli loach (also spelled Coolie loach), is a charming, eel-like fish known for its entertaining behavior and unusual appearance. The Kuhli loach has all the personality of larger loach species, but it remains small in stature and it is relatively forgiving of sub-standard water quality.

As a long-term aquarist, I adore keeping Kuhli loaches because of their complex personalities and amusing behaviors. If kept in good conditions, these entertaining fish will entertain their keepers with years of fun.

Adult Size

Kuhli loaches stay slim and short their entire lives. These eel-like fish rarely exceed four inches in length; many adults never grow to more than three inches.

Tank Size

The Kuhli loach is one of the few cyprinid species that can thrive in a small tank. Keep them a five gallon tank or larger.

Social Behavior

Kuhli loaches are friendly with one another and with other species. They do best in small groups of three or more.

Tank Mates

A Kuhli loach can live and thrive in a tank with almost any other freshwater species. Avoid keeping it with any boisterous bottom-dwellers, such as large plecos or rainbow sharks; these fish may bully the peaceful Kuhli loach.

Life Span

Treat your Kuhli loach with care, and he'll live for ten years or more.

Diet

A Kuhli loach will eat almost anything that sinks to the bottom of the tank. Kuhli loaches are true scavengers; they will eat flakes, pellets, detritus, algae and frozen food.

Breeding

Kuhli loaches lay their eggs on plant-roots under the substrate. The Kuhli keeper may not be aware that breeding has taken place until the fry swim out into the water. Try keeping a very large group of Kuhlis in a large, well-maintained tank.

Water Parameters

Kuhli loaches thrive in a narrow pH between 6-7. They are relatively sensitive to nitrates and ammonia; keep nitrate levels below 25 and ammonia levels as low as possible.

Temperature

Kuhli loaches are a tropical species; they require a heater. Keep your aquarium between 75-85 degrees.

Variations

Several variations of Kuhli loach exist in the wild. They display a wide array of natural color patterns, including stripes and spots. The similar "black loach" is sometimes marketed as a variation of the Kuhli loach, but it is in fact a different species.

Clown Loach Fact Sheet

The clown loach is one of the most popular ornamental fish for freshwater aquariums, but many novice fishkeepers fail to provide the species with the amount of space and interaction that it requires. As a long-term aquarist, I have always admired the clown loach because of its beautiful coloration and entertaining behavior.

When kept properly, a clown loach may live a decade or more . Use this clown loach care guide to give your fishy friend the long, healthy life he deserves.

Adult Size

Clown loaches in pet stores are almost always very young fry, so fishkeepers may underestimate the animal's adult size. Many healthy clown loaches have exceeded one foot in length.

Tank Size

A clown loach can not live for more than one to two years in a small tank. A 55 gallon aquarium is the minimal acceptable tank size for an adult cown loach.

Social Behavior

Clown loaches are friendly and social; they get along well with each other and other species. To thrive, these peaceful fish should be kept in small schools of four or more individuals.

Tank Mates

Clown loaches can live with almost any peaceful tankmates. They will gladly school with fish that have similar patterns, including the tiger barb.

Life Span

Expect your well-kept clown loach to live 10-12 years. In poor conditions, a clown loach will have a much shorter life expectancy.

Diet

Clown loaches eat a wide variety of plant-based foods and small bits of animal matter. Fresh, frozen and flake food are all acceptable foods; clown loaches will also help to clean up algae.

Breeding

Your clown loaches aren't likely to breed in a home aquarium; few breeders have successfully conditioned them to lay eggs. Most clown loaches are wild-caught in Borneo; they swim into bamboo traps and are sold to Western markets.

Water Parameters

Keep your clown loach at a pH between 6-7.5. Nitrate levels should remain below 25 and ammonia levels should remain nearly undetectable. Frequent water changes are essential.

Temperature

These tropical fish can only thrive in warm tanks. Clown loaches will only thrive at a temperature between 75-85 degrees.

Variations

Because it is resistent to commercial breeding, there are no domesticated varieties of clown loach.

Red-Finned Loach Fact Sheet

The red-finned loach, a pleasant freshwater aquarium fish, is overshadowed in popularity by other loach species. However, this peaceful, powder-blue fish commands a second look. It can provide an interesting focal point for a well-established aquarium. If you are interested in keeping red-finned loach fish in your own aquarium, familiarize yourself with red-finned loach care.

Adult Size

A well-kept red-finned loach may grow to eight inches or more, but many never exceed five inches.

Minimum Tank Size

Provide your red-finned loach fish with at least 29 gallons of water.

Strata

Red-finned loaches forage only in the bottom third of the aquarium.

Water pH

Red-finned loaches enjoy a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.

Water Parameters

Keep your red-finned loach fish in an aquarium with minimal ammonia levels and nitrates below 20 ppm.

Temperature

Red-finned loaches are native to tropical areas. They do best in a heated tank between 75-85 degrees.

Set-Up

Offer your red-finned loaches loose plants and ornaments. Provide a territory and hiding-place for each fish.

Social Behavior

Red-finned loaches thrive in small groups of 3-5 individuals. They fight with other bottom-dwelling species.

Feeding

Provide your red-finned loach fish with mosquito larvae, tubifex worms, freeze-dried brine shrimp and daphnia. They may nibble on algae.

Dwarf Loach Fact Sheet

The dwarf loach, a small cyprinid, is one of the less-common loaches for the home aquarium. Despite its modest size and relatively unimpressive coloration, the dwarf loach fish deserves a second look. It is very hardy and easy to care for, and its small stature makes it appropriate for miniature tanks. If you are interesting in buying dwarf loaches for your own fish tank, know these facts about dwarf loach care.

Adult Size

An adult dwarf loach will rarely exceed three inches in size. They are slimmer than larger loaches, but plumper than the coolie loach.

Minimum Tank Size

Keep dwarf loaches in a five-gallon aquarium or larger. Ten is better; twenty is ideal.

Strata

Dwarf loaches feed and lounge exclusively in the bottom third of a fish tank.

Water pH

Maintain a pH of 6 - 7.5 in any aquarium inhabited by dwarf loaches.

Water Parameters

Dwarf loaches can tolerate surprisingly high nitrate levels, possibly exceeding 60 ppm. However, it it best to keep nitrate levels below 30 and ammonia levels undetectable.

Temperature

Your dwarf loach fish will not live long in a tank without a heater. Do not allow your water temperature to drop below 79 degrees or rise above 85 degrees.

Social Behavior

As a shoaling species, this lively fish must live in groups of four or more. To thrive, dwarf loaches should be kept in large groups with eight or more individual fish. They are not territorial.

Set-Up

Some parts of the tank should be densely planted, but the midddle range of the tank should provide open water for swimming.

Feeding

Dwarf loaches accept fine-grade flake food and small live foods. Some will enjoy freeze-dried tubifex as an occasional treat.