Black Kuhli Compatability

[dfreas]

When I originally bought my 20g long aquarium from someone who had
allowed it to get into a mucky state of deep green it came with a
handfull of sad paranoid fish. 2 zebra danios, an adult siamese algae
eater, a stunted black molly that was actually permanently *smaller*
than the danios, and something that looked sort of like a kuhli but not
quite.

The algae eater was donated to the LFS the next day - I don't know why
anyone would buy one of those things. The danios and molly lived about
six more months and eventually died peacefull deaths - though the molly
never got any bigger which I thought really strange. The kuhli OTOH has
been a wonderful addition to my aquarium. He dissappeared for about
four months when I turned the aquarium into a cichlid aquarium and I
thought for sure he had become lunch but about a month ago when I sold
all of my cichlids he reappeared as happy and active as ever.

The one disappointing thing about him is that I can't find black kuhlis
(which I recently found out is what he is) in any LFS around here. He
needs some friends. The normal variety of kuhlis are in abundance at
every store I go to but I don't know if they would be a good tankmate
or just another competitor. I'm sure they would be peacefull to
eachother I'm just not sure they would make the brown kuhli any
happier. Thoughts? Would a school of the normal striped variety of
kuhlis and my black kuhli be happy together or mostly ignore eachother?

-Daniel

[Ric]

"dfreas" > wrote in message
oups.com...



>Would a school of the normal striped variety of
> kuhlis and my black kuhli be happy together or mostly ignore eachother?
>
> -Daniel
>

I find that kuhlis enjoy the company of other kuhlis. I have two striped and
one black and they get along well together and hide in the same cave.

Ric

[sophie]

In message . com>,
dfreas > writes
>When I originally bought my 20g long aquarium from someone who had
>allowed it to get into a mucky state of deep green it came with a
>handfull of sad paranoid fish. 2 zebra danios, an adult siamese algae
>eater, a stunted black molly that was actually permanently *smaller*
>than the danios, and something that looked sort of like a kuhli but not
>quite.
>
>The algae eater was donated to the LFS the next day - I don't know why
>anyone would buy one of those things. The danios and molly lived about
>six more months and eventually died peacefull deaths - though the molly
>never got any bigger which I thought really strange. The kuhli OTOH has
>been a wonderful addition to my aquarium. He dissappeared for about
>four months when I turned the aquarium into a cichlid aquarium and I
>thought for sure he had become lunch but about a month ago when I sold
>all of my cichlids he reappeared as happy and active as ever.
>
>The one disappointing thing about him is that I can't find black kuhlis
>(which I recently found out is what he is) in any LFS around here. He
>needs some friends. The normal variety of kuhlis are in abundance at
>every store I go to but I don't know if they would be a good tankmate
>or just another competitor. I'm sure they would be peacefull to
>eachother I'm just not sure they would make the brown kuhli any
>happier. Thoughts? Would a school of the normal striped variety of
>kuhlis and my black kuhli be happy together or mostly ignore eachother?


disclaimer: I have only the black kuhlis & they're a relatively recent
acquisition, but in the LFS (a good one run by an enthusiast) I have
seen a mixed tankful of the normal kuhlis and the black ones and they
all behaved as if they were the same, highly social, species. My guess
would be that you'd have an initial few days of very wary loaches then
they'd all be fine. If it is possible to track down the black ones, my
only reason for getting those would be that they are marginally more
out-and-about than the stripey guys.

you could try the discussion board at www.loaches.com - very
knowledgeable & very friendly people. Fantastic site generally, in fact.
--
sophie

[NetMax]

"dfreas" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> When I originally bought my 20g long aquarium from someone who had
> allowed it to get into a mucky state of deep green it came with a
> handfull of sad paranoid fish. 2 zebra danios, an adult siamese algae
> eater, a stunted black molly that was actually permanently *smaller*
> than the danios, and something that looked sort of like a kuhli but not
> quite.
>
> The algae eater was donated to the LFS the next day - I don't know why
> anyone would buy one of those things. The danios and molly lived about
> six more months and eventually died peacefull deaths - though the molly
> never got any bigger which I thought really strange. The kuhli OTOH has
> been a wonderful addition to my aquarium. He dissappeared for about
> four months when I turned the aquarium into a cichlid aquarium and I
> thought for sure he had become lunch but about a month ago when I sold
> all of my cichlids he reappeared as happy and active as ever.
>
> The one disappointing thing about him is that I can't find black kuhlis
> (which I recently found out is what he is) in any LFS around here. He
> needs some friends. The normal variety of kuhlis are in abundance at
> every store I go to but I don't know if they would be a good tankmate
> or just another competitor. I'm sure they would be peacefull to
> eachother I'm just not sure they would make the brown kuhli any
> happier. Thoughts? Would a school of the normal striped variety of
> kuhlis and my black kuhli be happy together or mostly ignore eachother?
>
> -Daniel


From my limited observations, fish don't seem too particular about
colours when it comes to socializing. My vote is that they would behave
like long lost siblings in very little time.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[sophie]

In message >, NetMax
> writes
>"dfreas" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>> When I originally bought my 20g long aquarium from someone who had
>> allowed it to get into a mucky state of deep green it came with a
>> handfull of sad paranoid fish. 2 zebra danios, an adult siamese algae
>> eater, a stunted black molly that was actually permanently *smaller*
>> than the danios, and something that looked sort of like a kuhli but not
>> quite.
>>
>> The algae eater was donated to the LFS the next day - I don't know why
>> anyone would buy one of those things. The danios and molly lived about
>> six more months and eventually died peacefull deaths - though the molly
>> never got any bigger which I thought really strange. The kuhli OTOH has
>> been a wonderful addition to my aquarium. He dissappeared for about
>> four months when I turned the aquarium into a cichlid aquarium and I
>> thought for sure he had become lunch but about a month ago when I sold
>> all of my cichlids he reappeared as happy and active as ever.
>>
>> The one disappointing thing about him is that I can't find black kuhlis
>> (which I recently found out is what he is) in any LFS around here. He
>> needs some friends. The normal variety of kuhlis are in abundance at
>> every store I go to but I don't know if they would be a good tankmate
>> or just another competitor. I'm sure they would be peacefull to
>> eachother I'm just not sure they would make the brown kuhli any
>> happier. Thoughts? Would a school of the normal striped variety of
>> kuhlis and my black kuhli be happy together or mostly ignore eachother?
>>
>> -Daniel
>
>
>From my limited observations, fish don't seem too particular about
>colours when it comes to socializing.

black kuhlis are a slightly different species, pangio javanicus rather
than pangio kuhli[myersi]; the main difference seems to be that
javanicus is a little more active/less shy and is slightly slimmer in
the body.

> My vote is that they would behave
>like long lost siblings in very little time.

but yes, I agree with you there...

--
sophie

[Margolis]

"dfreas" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> The algae eater was donated to the LFS the next day - I don't know why
> anyone would buy one of those things.


because they are good algae eaters and very interesting fish. "Almost" a
must have in planted aquariums. ;op

others already answered the other question.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[dfreas]

>because they are good algae eaters and very interesting fish.
"Almost" a
>must have in planted aquariums. ;op

Not true at all. A Pl*co is an excellent algae eater and very
interesting fish. A Chinese algae eater is only a good algae eater
while it is very young. The adults are moody, agressive and eat almost
no algae at all (note that I mentioned the horrible state the aquarium
was in when I obtained it - algae was **everywhere** and this thing
wasn't even touching it). Plus they're ugly as all get out. Pl*co's or
snails are both excellent alternatives - some people that keep planted
aquariums hate snails but I've never had a problem with the ramshorn
variety I keep eating any of my plants, they always stick to the algae.
And of course the Pl*co is a foolproof cure for algae.

-Daniel

[Margolis]

"dfreas" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Not true at all. A Pl*co is an excellent algae eater and very
> interesting fish. A Chinese algae eater is only a good algae eater
> while it is very young.


What I said is very true. You did not mention a chinese algae eater. You
said SIAMESE algae eater. They are completely different animals. the
siamese is a good algae eater and peaceful.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[dfreas]

Heh, I just reread my original post. You're correct. I've never owned a
saimese algae eater...it was a mental slip. The horror in my tank was
the chinese variety.

-Daniel

[NetMax]

"dfreas" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Heh, I just reread my original post. You're correct. I've never owned a
> saimese algae eater...it was a mental slip. The horror in my tank was
> the chinese variety.
>
> -Daniel


Contrary to popular belief, the SAE also gets to a considerable size,
slacks on eating algae and can become more of a nuisance, but the SAE is
still in a different class than the CAE, whose bad reputation is well
deserved. In too small a tank, or with certain tank-mates, they would
both be a problem though. jmo
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Ozdude]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "dfreas" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> Contrary to popular belief, the SAE also gets to a considerable size,
> slacks on eating algae and can become more of a nuisance, but the SAE is
> still in a different class than the CAE, whose bad reputation is well
> deserved. In too small a tank, or with certain tank-mates, they would
> both be a problem though. jmo

Mine are slowily getting bigger. What I've noticed with them is that they
tend to scrap mainly amongst themselves, if at all.

They are a much better looking fish too than a CAE and they have a
character.

I expect my 4 will grow to 4" or more eventually and we'll see then if they
get funny in their old age ;)

They are mervellous in comparison to the CAE I used to have btw - the CAE
was grumpy, territorial and slothful most of the time - more interested in
fish food than algae or dead plants. A Terror in a word ;)

My SAE actually shoal with the Hockey Tetras, so I am starting to think
their eye sight isn't too good ;)

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

[NetMax]

"Ozdude" > wrote in message
u...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> "dfreas" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> Contrary to popular belief, the SAE also gets to a considerable size,
>> slacks on eating algae and can become more of a nuisance, but the SAE
>> is still in a different class than the CAE, whose bad reputation is
>> well deserved. In too small a tank, or with certain tank-mates, they
>> would both be a problem though. jmo
>
> Mine are slowily getting bigger. What I've noticed with them is that
> they tend to scrap mainly amongst themselves, if at all.
>
> They are a much better looking fish too than a CAE and they have a
> character.
>
> I expect my 4 will grow to 4" or more eventually and we'll see then if
> they get funny in their old age ;)
>
> They are mervellous in comparison to the CAE I used to have btw - the
> CAE was grumpy, territorial and slothful most of the time - more
> interested in fish food than algae or dead plants. A Terror in a word
> ;)
>
> My SAE actually shoal with the Hockey Tetras, so I am starting to think
> their eye sight isn't too good ;)
>
> Oz


The only folks I've met who thought CAEs were good algae-eating
tank-mates, had them in with ornery cichlids 'duh, that would work'.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Robert Flory]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "dfreas" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Heh, I just reread my original post. You're correct. I've never owned a
>> saimese algae eater...it was a mental slip. The horror in my tank was
>> the chinese variety.
>>
>> -Daniel
>
>
> Contrary to popular belief, the SAE also gets to a considerable size,
> slacks on eating algae and can become more of a nuisance, but the SAE is
> still in a different class than the CAE, whose bad reputation is well
> deserved. In too small a tank, or with certain tank-mates, they would
> both be a problem though. jmo
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
I have 4 - two in each 55, that seem to hang around on leaves and don't do
much but scarf up flake. They are 4.5 inches each. Peaceful lazy bums;-)

Bob

[Margolis]

I have 3 golden chinese algae eaters about 3" right now. They don't behave
like the stereotypical cae yet. They still love to eat algae, even though
they go after the brine shrimp and bloodworms when the others are fed. And
they have wonderful personalities. They don't harrass any other fish at
all. And they like to come up to the front of the tank when I am near it.
Sometimes they act a little like loaches. They will sometimes just lay on
their sides in the tank when they get comfy. And one likes to sleep stuck
to the side of the intake strainer for the magnum. When it is time for
lights out he heads to the strainer and sticks his side against it and
sleeps. I am really surprised considering the rep they have. I figure if
they ever become a nuisance they will just go in the 135 with the fish they
can't bother.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[Ozdude]

"Margolis" > wrote in message
...
>I have 3 golden chinese algae eaters about 3" right now. They don't behave
>like the stereotypical cae yet. They still love to eat algae, even though
>they go after the brine shrimp and bloodworms when the others are fed. And
>they have wonderful personalities. They don't harrass any other fish at
>all. And they like to come up to the front of the tank when I am near it.
>Sometimes they act a little like loaches. They will sometimes just lay on
>their sides in the tank when they get comfy.

They sound like they are young still to me ;)

> And one likes to sleep stuck to the side of the intake strainer for the
> magnum. When it is time for lights out he heads to the strainer and
> sticks his side against it and sleeps.

Considering where they hail from I'm not surprised at this. They delight,
and are adapted for, in the wild, clinging to rocks in fast flowing water.
They even have special adaptations like nostrils that vent upwards, so they
can hang on with all their might to the rock with their sucker mouth and
still respire. This makes them easy to catch from the wild I believe.

> I am really surprised considering the rep they have. I figure if they
> ever become a nuisance they will just go in the 135 with the fish they
> can't bother.

My lone CAE wasn't that bad I guess, but it did used to get nasty and it
would chase other members of the tank for no reason. When mine lay on it's
side it died ;(

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

[Ozdude]

"Robert Flory" > wrote in message
...

> I have 4 - two in each 55, that seem to hang around on leaves and don't do
> much but scarf up flake. They are 4.5 inches each. Peaceful lazy
> bums;-)


SAE's or CAE's ?

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

[Robert Flory]

"Ozdude" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Robert Flory" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> I have 4 - two in each 55, that seem to hang around on leaves and don't
>> do much but scarf up flake. They are 4.5 inches each. Peaceful lazy
>> bums;-)
>
>
> SAE's or CAE's ?
>
> Oz
>
> --
> My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith
Genuine SAE's... They do help keep the place clean though.
Bob

[Ozdude]

"Robert Flory" > wrote in message
...

> Genuine SAE's... They do help keep the place clean though.
> Bob

Mine have been resting on leaves of late too. I love how they sit up on
their fins when resting. They seem to have about a 50/50 preference for
flake/dried shrimp/blood worms/pellets/disks (fish food) and algae.

What they miss on the green algae front, the Swordtails get, and what they
miss on the glass the Mystery Snail gets, but I still find myself scraping
the glass with an old credit card (the best glass scraper there is IMO) one
a fortnight, but only if it's got any green. I let any biofilm stay there
for the SAE's because they seem to like grazing on that at particular times
of the day.

Mine are only about 3 inches long, so I presume they are still young.

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith