r/loaches

For the past two months i’ve been counting 5 kuhli loaches. I was disappointed since i’ve had them for a little over a year and i was feeling better since my last death (my goldfish last year). I didn’t want to beat myself up too much because it would’ve made me very unmotivated to keep going in the hobby. BUT GOOD NEWS ! I JUST COUNTED 6!

These pictures are just to show how beautiful and cuties they are. First picture was in july of 2025 and second is like 6 months later, I don’t take pics of them anymore lol.
Funny part is that i was considering buying another one so that they are 6. 😭

I’ve been wanting Kuhli loaches for awhile now and finally just added 6 of them to my tank! I am so unbelievably fascinated with them and they are genuinely so adorable and cool.
After acclimating and letting them into the tank, one of them got the new tank zoomies 😂
I am absolutely obsessed with my noodles!

H. parclitella

One of my kuhlis spends all its time in the leaves near the surface jammed against the glass - I have been able to account for all of them except one which has been missing for the last week, until I noticed it yesterday at the top of the tank. All my other kuhlis hang out on the floor together but this one is never with them. It occasionally has a wiggle to get in a different position but since I spotted it has always been in the leaves in this corner (apart from very briefly when I spooked it by accident). It's quite a vibrant colour still and hasn't paled or anything, but I'm just a bit worried about it isolating from the others - this is also the corner of my tank that has the lowest movement. I just am not really sure what could be wrong, as all my other fish/shrimp seem okay.

Ammonia = 0ppm

Nitrites = 0ppm

Nitrates - my test kit just ran out but I have one ordered, this is usually ~10-15 ppm whenever I check it though

Noticed these white blemishes on the bars on one of my guys today at feeding time, it seems like something to be concerned about? Ich? Any help for my gang much appreciated!

Tank: 30 gal
Community:
x12 Kuhli loaches
x10 Blue neocaridina davidii (give or take a few babies)

Parameters:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0 (heavily planted)
pH - 6.5
kH - 3-4
Temp: 77 f / 25 c