Strange kuhli loach behavior

shinybetta

My new kuhli loaches (added to my tank yesterday) seem to have a strange behavior of wedging themselves in between the filter intake tube and the tank wall. Would anyone know why this is so?

aunt kymmie

Typical loach behavior. They love wedging themselves into things. Do you have anything in the tank that would be more appropriate for "wedging"behaviors?? I have lots of driftwood in my loach tanks and that's where I can ALWAYS find them. Also, when loaches are new to a tank they like to "hide" much more until they get more comfortable. Kuhlis are just about the shyest of the different loach species. How many do you have? Nearly all loaches require to be in numbers of at least five individuals, in order to feel "safe".

shinybetta

Currently I only have two, but when I upgrade my tank I am going to have 6. I have some driftwood, but it is home to my marbled crayfish(although, the crayfish are actually afraid of the loaches), and a rock. They also could wedge themselves between the stems of my big Amazon Sword.

aunt kymmie

I'd have to say that having only two is causing this behavior. When you upgrade and add more you'll see a big difference in their behavior. For now don't expect to see them much at all. Crayfish scare me. I always picture them on the hunt at night snapping up the other tank inhabitants while they are sleeping. Are crayfish nocturnal??

shinybetta

My marbled crayfish are nocturnal, but they don't usually bother other fish. Marbled crayfish are friendlier than other crayfish, they can even be kept with RCS. They do chase away the corydoras, but they don't nip and they only do it if the corydoras are bothering them. Eventually they are going to get their own 30 gallon so I can set up a colony.