Keeping Kuhli loach can be hard for beginners and challenging for experienced aquarists as well. Hence, we all tend to make some common beginner’s mistakes when it comes to raising Kuhli loach. We often think that every tropical freshwater fish has common requirements. But that is not the case. Your Kuhli loach asks for certain things in the tank which can be different from other freshwater fish. And out of all this, the temperature can be determining factor for their livelihood. But what is the ideal water temperature for Kuhli loach?
Kuhli loach is native to the tropical climate and comes from the wild where the temperature is slightly high than usual. Hence, the ideal water temperature range for your Kuhli loach is between 75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit or 24 to 30 degrees Celsius.
An aquarium heater is must-have equipment for your Kuhli loach while keeping them in the aquarium. You have to maintain the optimum temperature all the time or else you will end up losing your fish.
I know, you will have many questions related to this. Hence, I tried to collect all the problems, queries, along with the solutions I faced with Kuhli loach in terms of temperature.
Hope this will make it easier for you to raise Kuhli loach in the tank with no issues whatsoever.
What Is The Ideal Water Temperature For Kuhli Loach?
If you are used to raising freshwater, tropical fish in the tank, you will know the type of water temperature they prefer.
And yet again we are dealing with a tropical fish that prefers a little warmer water temperature than usual ones.
Kuhli loach comes from the natural habitat situated amidst a tropical climate. Hence, they ask for warmer water and will have a problem living in the cold-water aquarium.
People often experiment and try to keep Kuhli loach in the cooler aquarium and regret it later. These loaches are quite sensitive when it comes to water temperature as well as water quality.
Even the slightest change in the water temperature can kill your Kuhli loach within minutes sometimes. Hence, maintain the water temperature between the ideal range all the time.
The ideal water temperature range for Kuhli loach is between 75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are used to dealing with temperature in Celsius then go for the temperature between 24 to 30 degrees Celsius.
You can keep them in the temperature around 73 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit but do not let the temperature go below that.
What Happens When The Water Temperature Is Higher For Kuhli Loach?
We have the misconception that tropical fish will be able to handle higher water temperatures even when they cannot bear lower temperatures.
You may have heard that too much sugar can leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Hence, apply the same logic here.
Everything is better within the limit. You have to maintain the water temperature ideal for your fish in order to give them a better environment to live in.
That’s why there is an upper water temperature range always given along with the lower range for you to not exceed it.
I will list out all the consequences you might have to deal with when the water temperature is higher than usual that will take place with Kuhli loach.
Oxygen Deficiency
Kuhli loach prefers the tank with a high oxygen supply and hence they will live happily in the tank with enough oxygenation.
But when the temperature starts to get higher, the movement in the fish body starts to increase making it demand more oxygen in the tank.
These Kuhli loaches will start to swim rapidly and gasp for breath due to high temperatures. But warm water has lesser oxygen compared to cold water making it hard for your Kuhli loach to breathe.
They will die due to suffocation after the oxygen level becomes way low than these loaches can handle. Your Fish might become active during their last moment of life.
High Rate Of Metabolism
The increment in heat of the water also makes your fish increase their daily activity. They will start to swim faster and rapidly making it look like they have gone crazy.
People often mistake this for Kuhli loach dance while their fish is struggling for their life. Warm temperature speeds up the digestive process making Kuhli loach more hungry than usual.
Since the oxygen level is quite low, these loaches have to use more energy to pump water through their gills to absorb oxygen.
These activities can be quite tiring and hence they will ask for more energy meaning the high rate of metabolism and hunger.
Accumulated Ammonia Due To Higher Temperature
A low level of oxygen contributes to the higher level of ammonia in the tank. Aquarium Beneficial Bacteria that are supposed to perform the aquarium nitrogen cycle will fail to do their job due to oxygen deficiency.
Thus, aquarium ammonia poisoning will harm your Kuhli loach. And all of this happens due to the instant and unrecommended increment in the water temperature.
Stress And Diseases
Ammonia, low oxygen level, warmer environment, and hunger can stress Kuhli loach to the point that they will stop doing anything in the tank.
This stress will lead to the weakening of the immune system and the ability of Kuhli loach to fight bacteria and parasites.
They will be highly susceptible to the parasites as well as bacteria and viruses present in the tank that can cause diseases in Kuhli loach.
Higher the temperature, the weaker your Kuhli loach. This will make them unhealthy and sick and will often lead to their death after a while.
Fish Burn
High temperature can burn the outer body of the Kuhli loach as well as the internal organs. This can be way more horrific than you think.
The small bubbles all over the eel-like body of Kuhli loach is not something you will prefer to look at, trust me.
How To Prevent The Overheating Of The Kuhli Loach Tank?
The consequences of overheating are way scarier than we can contemplate. You may not realize it till you face it.
But let that be for now and think about the way to prevent overheating the tank and saving the fish from any toil in the first place.
Here are things you can do to control the fluctuation in the temperature in the Kuhli loach tank:
- Use a branded aquarium heater with a thermostat that can regulate the temperature according to the environment and make sure it is appropriate according to the tank size.
- The slow and gradual change in water is necessary to maintain the ideal water parameters. Remember too much aquarium water change can be harmful to your fish.
- Get a thermometer and install it in the aquarium to check the water temperature all the time.
- Do not keep your aquarium near fireplaces, windows, heating vents, air conditioning, or in contact with direct sunlight.
- Keep the lighting to as minimal as possible and use LED lights as other bulbs produce more heat compared to LEDs. Also, Kuhli loach prefers a darker environment.
- Maintain the room temperature the same all the time so that the aquarium heater doesn’t get a wrong hint about temperature.
- Turn the heater down during summer but never ever turn it entirely off.
Can Kuhli Loach Live In Cold Water?
While there are loaches like Dojo loaches, weather loaches, etc. that will happily live in the Coldwater aquarium.
But Kuhli loaches are not similar to these loaches in terms of water temperature. You might end up killing your fish by experimenting with cold water in the tank.
You will barely see your Kuhli loach moving in the tank and they will even become catatonic. Their metabolism slows down and loss of appetite will slowly make your fish weak.
After a while, you might end up with unhealthy, unhappy, and most probably dead fish when the water temperature doesn’t go back to ideal.
Risking the health and life of Kuhli loach for some silly experiment is straightway inhumane. Your Kuhli loach comes from the tropical climate and prefers warmer water temperatures.
Give them that without making them fuss about anything. You are killing your fish if you keep them in a cold-water tank.
Do Kuhli Loaches Need A Heater?
Yes, as every tropical fish, Kuhli loaches, too, need the heater in their aquarium. To be honest, you have to be careful with the water temperature in the case of Kuhli loach more than any other tropical fish.
These loaches are way more sensitive and delicate when it comes to change in water parameters. Hence, it is even better to get two aquarium heaters for the Kuhli loach tank.
Having a backup heater in the aquarium will help you neutralize the risk of temperature going down or up with no reason whatsoever.
When one of the heaters fails to do its job, the other one will cover up for them. If the water is too cold for your Kuhli loach, you might end up losing them.
I have seen people suggesting others about not getting a heater but that is so negative and wrong. You have to get a heater no matter what until and unless you have the room temperature around the same range as the ideal water temperature for Kuhli loach.
Of course, you have to check the water temperature more often and make sure there is no fluctuation from the given ideal range.
Tetra 26446 HT Submersible Aquarium Heater With Electronic Thermostat will be an ideal match for your Kuhli loach tank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions related to Kuhli loach can be never-ending as well as nerve-wracking. Hence, I have tried to answer some of the most asked questions you might be wondering about too.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Kuhli Loach?
The lifespan of Kuhli loach depends on the treatment and care they get in the tank. Most of the time people fail to maintain the ideal water parameters and optimum water quality.
That’s when these Kuhli loaches will die within months and people contemplate they won’t survive long in captivity.
But as a matter of fact, Kuhli loach can live up to 14 years happily in the tank. They have various measures to save themselves from different problems in the tank.
Their coping mechanism makes them live longer even in the problematic tank. But if you fail to give them the right environment after a while, you might end up with a dead fish floating in the tank.
Will Kuhli Loaches Come Out During The Day?
Yes, there is a chance you will see Kuhli loach during the daytime as well. Not that they are supposed to come out while the light is still on but there is a loophole to bring Kuhli loach out of the hiding.
You might already know that Kuhli loach is nocturnal and will not prefer light if you are asking this question.
They will scavenge through the tank substrate during the night and will go back to hiding as soon as the sun rises.
However, these Kuhli loaches are foodies and their love for food always wins against nocturnal behavior. Hence, they will come out even during daylight hours if you give food to them along with other fish.
And if you give them time and the lighting is dim they will come out in the daytime too. These loaches become bolder and comfortable to come out when they live half their lifespan in the tank environment.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the water temperature can be the determining factor for how well your Kuhli loach will live in the tank. Even the slightest fluctuation can make your Kuhli loach go crazy. You cannot complain later on about the thing you did wrong. There is nothing wrong with Kuhli loach behaving irrationally when they are not kept in the ideal environment. No one can tolerate the change in their living environment all of the sudden. You need to get a heater or two to keep the water temperature optimum all the time for your Kuhli loach to live properly in the tank. Having a backup heater will give you assurance of your fish safety while you are on vacation.
If you fail to do something related to Kuhli loach and need help, then let me know. I might be able to help you and solve your problem.
Drop your query on the comment box below and I will get back to you as soon as I am done moderating the comments.
Good Luck!!!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!