Black Kuhli Compatability

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

"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

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

"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

In message , NetMax
writes
"dfreas" wrote in message
roups.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

"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/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

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

"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/200302152...qs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

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

"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