Black Kuhli Loach In Numbers

[aquahead1]

Is it really necessary to have 6 or more BKL in a tank? I mean, I want two, but they are apparently very socially dependent and I don't want them to be lonely. Do I really need 6 or more? Posts here will be taken into mind later when I have my big tank.

[Goes to 11!]

Is it really necessary to have 6 or more BKL in a tank?

Yes. ...................

[sheamurai]

I guess it depends on how you define "necessary".

You can get one or two and never see it/them, as they will always be hiding under the safest decoration to be found. You'll wonder if you even still have any after a month or so. But they won't die of being alone.

Or you can get a nice sized school and see them out and about, and be able to watch their antics as they interact with each other and zip twirl zoom around the tank.

I know which I prefer...

[ekfishlover2011]

I had just 2 of them for a year, and the only time i ever saw them was when i moved their house and they frightened and came out. Other than that, they never came out, not even to eat, unless the tank was 100% black. If i had my moonlight on they didnt come out either.

Then this spring i bought more. Now they come out everyday, and i dont have to scare them to death to find them! :)

So why it might not be "necessary" to have 6 or more, its not really worth having any if you only have 2, because you never see their beauty anyway that way. :( With 6 or more you will be sure to always see some, especially right around dusk ive found mine are most active and can usually find almost all of them.

[MCHRKiller]

Actually 12+ would yield a more natural behavior in the tank. Loaches prefer larger groups and plenty of cover. If they feel safe in their tank scape and have lots of company they will be very entertaining social fish that wont run and hide at the slightest movement outside their tank.

My Y.cruciatus(dwarf zebra hovering loaches) were always very shy when I kept them in a more Iwagumi tank scape...now that they live in a densely planted tank with a tangle of branches...and I upped their shoal they are out constantly and never hide. You really must take your fish's individual needs and preferences into account before buying them...

[aquahead1]

How many BKLs could I comfortably fit in about a 125 gallon aquarium along with:

x5 Ghost Shrimp
x5 Otocinclus
x10 Glowlight Tetras

?

I'm thinking over 12, but I don't know because of their size.

4 inches x 12 BKL = 48 inches of BKL.

That's a lot.

[HEADIN]

alot more than 12! very small bio load. the more the better.

[y2blade]

I had just 2 of them for a year, and the only time i ever saw them was when i moved their house and they frightened and came out. Other than that, they never came out, not even to eat, unless the tank was 100% black. If i had my moonlight on they didnt come out either.

Then this spring i bought more. Now they come out everyday, and i dont have to scare them to death to find them! :)

So why it might not be "necessary" to have 6 or more, its not really worth having any if you only have 2, because you never see their beauty anyway that way. :( With 6 or more you will be sure to always see some, especially right around dusk ive found mine are most active and can usually find almost all of them.

Exactly this^^^^^

OP if you only buy two they won't be happy as they are a social fish.

It'd be like getting just one Zebra danio or tiger barb :(

[MCHRKiller]

How many BKLs could I comfortably fit in about a 125 gallon aquarium along with:

x5 Ghost Shrimp
x5 Otocinclus
x10 Glowlight Tetras

?

I'm thinking over 12, but I don't know because of their size.

4 inches x 12 BKL = 48 inches of BKL.

That's a lot.

First thing....toss that whole inch per gallon rule out the window and set it on fire. There is a huge difference between a 4" Kuhli and a 4" Discus in terms of bioload and space requirements. Heck bump those Glowlights up to 30-40 fish, the Otos up to 8-10, and the Kuhlies keep 2 dozen. You would still have ALOT of room left to stock the tank with other fish. You have the tank size to keep truly proper shoals...please do so

[Goes to 11!]

You have the tank size to keep truly proper shoals..

No Jenn he doesn't, He owns a 10g tank.

Posts here will be taken into mind later when I have my big tank.