Kuhli loach tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for kuhli loaches are bettas, angelfish and guppies. Each match shares kuhli loaches' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Hides in sand most of the day. Small fish and adult shrimp are safe; baby shrimp may get eaten.

Temperature

75–86°F

pH

5.5–7

Temperament

Peaceful

Minimum tank

20 gal

With care

19

Avoid

15

Good tank mates

• Betta76–82°F
• Angelfish76–84°F
• Guppy75–82°F
• Corydoras75–79°F
• Cherry shrimp75–80°F
• Rummy nose tetra75–84°F
• Ember tetra75–84°F
• Cardinal tetra76–84°F
• Discus82–86°F
• Apistogramma75–84°F
• Silver dollar75–82°F
• Tiger barb75–81°F
• Severum75–84°F
• Chili rasbora75–82°F
• Lemon tetra75–82°F
• Honey gourami75–82°F
• Congo tetra75–82°F
• Pencilfish75–82°F
• Yoyo loach75–86°F
• Sparkling gourami75–82°F
• Blue gourami75–82°F
• Dwarf gourami75–82°F
• Hatchetfish75–81°F
• Black neon tetra75–81°F
• Neon tetra75–79°F
• German blue ram80–86°F
• Cherry barb75–81°F
• Clown loach77–86°F
• Pearl gourami77–82°F
• Kissing gourami75–82°F
• Black skirt tetra75–80°F
• Paradise fish75–79°F
• Firemouth cichlid75–86°F
• Harlequin rasbora75–80°F
• Zebra pleco79–86°F
• GloFish tetra75–80°F
• Dwarf neon rainbowfish75–82°F
• Killifish75–77°F
• Odessa barb75–79°F
• Electric blue acara75–82°F
• Glass catfish75–80°F
• Glowlight tetra75–80°F
• Serpae tetra75–79°F
• Elephant nose fish75–82°F
• Kribensis75–80°F
• Bristlenose pleco75–81°F
• Blood parrot76–80°F
• Clown pleco75–82°F
• Rosy barb75–77°F
• Bolivian ram75–79°F
• Pygmy cory75–79°F
• Pictus catfish75–79°F
• Bamboo shrimp75–82°F
• Celestial pearl danio75–79°F
• Upside down catfish75–79°F
• Otocinclus75–79°F
• Zebra loach75–79°F
• Amano shrimp75–80°F
• Chinese algae eater75–80°F
• Zebra danio75–77°F
• Panda cory75–77°F
• Siamese algae eater75–79°F
• Crayfish75–77°F
• Dojo loach75–77°F

Possible, with care

• Pea puffer Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Bala shark Bala sharks grow to 13 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for kuhli loaches.
• Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for kuhli loaches.
• Molly Different water: kuhli loaches want pH 5.5–7, mollies want pH 7.5–8.5.
• Boesemani rainbowfish Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Mystery snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Platy Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast kuhli loaches will take the food first, so target-feed them.
• Tinfoil barb Tinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for kuhli loaches.
• Endler's livebearer Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Rainbow shark Rainbow sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
• Ghost shrimp Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Red tail shark Red tail sharks chase other bottom fish out of their patch.
• Gold barb They only share 75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
• Swordtail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Hillstream loach They only share 75°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
• Assassin snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Ramshorn snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
• Nerite snail Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

Avoid

• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); kuhli loaches need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); kuhli loaches need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches kuhli loaches do.
• Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches kuhli loaches do.
• Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches kuhli loaches do.
• African cichlid Different water: kuhli loaches want pH 5.5–7, african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful kuhli loaches.
• Electric yellow cichlid Different water: kuhli loaches want pH 5.5–7, yellow labs want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches kuhli loaches do.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches kuhli loaches do.
• Peacock cichlid Different water: kuhli loaches want pH 5.5–7, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Flowerhorn An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches kuhli loaches do.
• White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); kuhli loaches need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.
• Koi Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); kuhli loaches need 75–86°F. They overlap only at 75–77°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); kuhli loaches need 75–86°F. No temperature suits both.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the kuhli loach care sheet.