People are often aware of the fact about the dietary needs of their fish. However, they often miss out on the amount and number of times they need to feed their fish. Kuhli loach might eat anything they find but you have to be careful with their dietary needs as well. You cannot overlook their feeding schedule just because they are earing leftovers in the tank. But how often should you feed your Kuhli loaches?
You need to feed your Kuhli loaches 2 to 3 times a day and even more and the amount shouldn’t be more than what they can eat within 2 to 3 minutes. And, you need to alternate the diet of the Kuhli loaches to help them grow properly and stay happy in the tank.
You need to avoid overfeeding your fish and make sure they are not eating anything that is not healthy for them.
You may not understand what I am saying through the above paragraph. That’s why I suggest you read this entire article and help yourself understand every little thing related to the dietary need of your Kuhli loach.
How Often Should You Feed Kuhli Loaches?
Kuhli loaches can confuse people when it comes to feeding them. You see, they are always busy eating food present in the tank.
Hence, we cannot decide whether to give them more food or even take out all the leftovers present in the tank.
Kuhli loaches are widely famous for the way they clean the tank. Not literal cleaning with getting rid of algae and all, but for the way they clean all the leftovers.
Thus, they will be always busy eating their food. Also, these Kuhli loaches will ask for food even when you are feeding other fish.
You may think that these nocturnal fish will not mind other fish eating during the day. But you are wrong. They will come out of their lair when there is food present in the aquarium.
That’s why you need to feed them while you are feeding your other fish. Kuhli loaches need or ask for food for nearly 2 to 3 times a day.
They will spend their whole night searching for food. Hereafter, you have to leave behind the food at the tank at night essentially.
Feed them twice or thrice a day and they will happily eat the food you give them. But make sure to alternate the type of food.
How Much Should I Feed My Kuhli Loaches?
Overfeeding is an issue that often brings obesity and death in the aquarium fish. Hence you need to be careful with the amount of food you give Kuhli loaches.
I often had a hard time figuring out the amount as Kuhli loach were often eating leftovers as well as the algae present in the tank.
Hence, I started taking more notice of what my Kuhli loach has been eating. After that, I tried to maintain an appropriate diet for them.
I will help solve this problem easily. Here is a table about the amount of food along with the types of food that you can feed your Kuhli loaches.
| Food | Amount (How much) |
| Pellets | 1 or 2 pellets per Kuhli loach |
| Flakes | What they can eat within 2 to 3 minutes |
| Brine shrimps | 1 or 2 per fish |
| Blood worms | Equals to your smallest pinch |
| Live foods | Quarter teaspoons per Kuhli loach |
| Wafers | 1 wafer per 10 fish |
| Veggies | Enough for them to eat within 3 minutes |
What Happens If I Overfeed Or Underfeed My Kuhli Loaches?
We usually underestimate the impact of the dietary needs of fish. Most of us don’t habitually do research about everything related to the fish we are raising.
You may have heard about various consequences of underfeeding and overfeeding your aquarium fish. But do all of the consequences apply to the Kuhli loaches in your aquarium? I think that is the main question everyone needs to ask.
You have to understand every little thing related to the diet of your fish even if it means listening to the negative sides of it.
Here is what happens when you don’t feed your Kuhli loach properly:
- Overfeeding Leads To Obesity In Kuhli Loach
- Stress
- Swim bladder disease
- Bloating due to overfeeding
- Malnourished due to underfeeding
- Low immunity power
- Lethargy
- Health issues
- Prone to bacteria and parasites
- Death
How Long Can Kuhli Loach Go Without Food?
Your Kuhli loaches might seem like a strong fish that will be fine on its own. But you are wrong. Your Kuhli loaches are actually quite fragile and needy when it comes to food.
Kuhli loaches are the epitome of being a food lover. They cannot survive a day without munching on anything present in the tank.
However, when it comes to the fish food you give them, they won’t ask for it till there are leftovers in the tank.
But when it comes down to your absence and you being unable to feed your fish, things can get scary. You will not have to worry about their diet for a few days but this is not a good thing.
Kuhli loaches will be fine for 5 days without any food in the tank. If you have fed them well before leaving and have some algae in the tank, these Kuhli loaches will not complain till Day 5.
But remember your Kuhli loaches are foodies and will be starving during this whole time. It is always risky as well as cruel to make your fish stay with a hunger for these many days.
You can always ask your neighbor or a friend to occasionally feed your Kuhli loaches. These fish are wonderful enough to survive and be okay with the leftovers in the tank.
I still don’t recommend you to starve your fish for 5 days straight. They will be using their energy to not give up.
You will probably find them hiding or scavenging through the tank when you are back from your vacation.
Or if your stay out of your house away from your aquarium extends, then you might come back to a dead fish.
What Do Your Kuhli Loaches Eat?
There are various foods that your Kuhli loach will happily devour. Honestly, Kuhli loaches will not make any fuss about the type of food you give them.
They are often happy with the leftovers and algae present in the tank. You may not even have to think about their dietary needs if the amount of leftovers is often high from other fish.
Kuhli loaches are omnivores that will eat anything from live foods to green vegetables. You can go for pellets, flakes, or even algae wafers when it comes to feeding your Kuhli loach.
Your Kuhli loaches will also help you to get rid of algae present in the tank naturally. Although, they are not a clean-up crew for the algae.
Do not keep them in the tank in the hope of getting rid of algae totally. They will only eat the soft algae present on the smooth rocks.
I will list out some of the best foods for your Kuhli loach below. Hope this will help.
- Sinking pellets
- Flake food
- Algae wafers/tablets
- Live bloodworms
- Live daphnia
- Frozen Bloodworms
- Mysis shrimp
- Brine shrimp
- Frozen foods
- Bloodworms
- Veggies like spinach, zucchini, cucumber, lettuce, etc.
- Algae present in the tank
- Finely chopped meaty foods
Along with that, you can go for some of the best commercial food for your Kuhli loaches. I will recommend following ones:
- Tetra 77080 Pro Tropical Color Crisps
- Tetra ShrimpWafers Complete Diet
- Omega One Freeze-Dried Blood Worms
- Northfin Food Community Formula 0.5Mm Pellet 250 Gram Package
- Omega One Freeze-Dried Tubifex Worms
- Omega One Color Enhancing Pellet Combo
- SAN FRANCISCO BAY Brand Freeze Dried Bloodworms 1.75oz
- Aquatic Foods Inc. Blackworms, Loose Freeze Dried California Blackworm 10gram
Frequently Asked Questions
I know the questions can be never-ending and every aspect of feeding your Kuhli loach will make you wonder something new. Hence, I collected some of the FAQs that people often ask and answered them to make it easier for you.
Do Kuhli Loaches Eat Cucumber?
Yes, your Kuhli loach eats cucumber. Honestly, your Kuhli loaches will eat anything that you give them. They will happily adjust in the tank even if the only food there is leftover from other fish.
However, they do need extra food apart from the ones present in the tank. If you are out of fish food, then foods from your freezer can help you for a while.
Your Kuhli loach will devour cucumber along with other green vegetables. But you have to make sure the food you give is soft to munch on.
What Vegetables Do Kuhli Loaches Eat?
Kuhli loach will eat anything you give them. They are truly one of the easiest fish to feed and these loaches will be happy even with the leftovers or algae in the smooth rocks.
Hence, they will eat veggies with no issues whatsoever. You can give them any green foods that are soft enough to munch on.
Green peas, lettuce, cucumber, spinach, etc. will be great food for your Kuhli loach. Try giving them vegetables after you boil those properly.
These vegetables need to be soft and easier to chew or munch on for your Kuhli loach. They will absolutely love these green vegetables when you mash them well.
Conclusion
Briefly, Kuhli loaches will be happy with the leftovers present in the tank. People often stop thinking about the Kuhli Loach diet when they see them scavenging through the tank and munching on the food present.
However, this is not recommended and you need to be extra careful with the diet of these food lovers. You can give them anything from live foods to pellets and they will happily accept it. Of course, you have to feed them several times a day. They will ask for food while other fish present in the tank has lunchtime.
Kuhli loaches can be sensitive and fragile and will be upset when they don’t get food on time. Be careful with their dietary needs and the way you take care of them.
If you have any queries related to Kuhli loach or any other fish, drop them in the comment section below. I will get back to you when I am done moderating the comments.
Good Luck!!!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!
