How many kuhli loaches should be kept together?

Known as the oddball of the tropical fish world, kuhli loaches are small freshwater fish which are similar in appearance to the eel and will usually have bristles or whiskers around the mouth.  The kuhli loach is a pretty hardy fish and therefore easy to take care of, however, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your loaches stay happy and healthy and we’ll take a look at some of these in this article: 

How many kuhli loaches should be kept together?

If you have a 20 gallon tank, it’s a good idea to keep between three and six kuhli loaches together.  These fish usually grow to a maximum of four inches so this number will give loaches plenty of room for comfortable cohabiting.  Keeping groups of larger than six together in a tank this size may result in your fish becoming stressed and ill.  The good news, however, is that these delightful fish are very sociable and peaceful creatures and so can be kept with other small, schooling fish such as rasbors, tetras and betta fish. 

Hide and seek

Kuhli loaches are nocturnal fish and, so, you may not see much of them during the daytime.  As such, it’s a good idea to provide vegetation and driftwood in the tank to create hiding spaces for your loaches during the day. 

Conclusion

Happily, kuhli loaches are pretty undemanding creatures and, as long as you don’t crowd them with large groups and make sure that you provide plenty of places to hide during daylight hours, it’s relatively easy to keep these fish happy and healthy.