You know that kuhli loaches are great fish to put in community tanks. You might have recently purchased some from an aquarium store.
These fish are incredible and can add a lot of fun to your fish tank. They’re generally hardy fish that aren’t too tough for beginners to care for.
How long are these fish expected to live, though? Are they fish that only live for a few years or can they live for a very long time?
Keep reading to learn about the average lifespan of a kuhli loach. You’ll learn how long these fish live as well as how you can help to keep the fish alive for as long as possible.
How Long Do Kuhli Loaches Live?
On average, kuhli loaches will live for around ten years in a fish tank. Most kuhli loaches will live between seven and ten years in an aquarium.
However, it’s very common for the fish to live for ten years when cared for well. They might even live a little bit longer than this.
There are reports that some kuhli loach enthusiasts have kept these fish alive for fourteen years. So you can expect kuhli loaches to be an important part of your tank for a long time so long as you put in the effort.
Of course, the fish won’t even survive for seven years if you do a very bad job. If you want the fish to reach their average lifespan in the tank you’ll need to do your best to keep them happy.
Luckily, kuhli loaches are hardy fish that won’t die when you make a few mistakes. Later, you’ll learn about what you need to focus on to keep the fish alive for as long as possible.
For now, just know that kuhli loaches are fairly long-lived fish. It’s likely that you’ll be able to enjoy your kuhli loaches for years to come.
Are There Differences Based on the Type of Kuhli Loach?
Average kuhli loach lifespans are pretty much the same no matter what type of kuhli loach you’re looking at. They all seem to live between seven and ten years in fish tanks.
Some fish might live longer and stick around for up to fourteen years. The various different types of kuhli loaches are distinct in certain ways, but they all have very similar lifespans.
This means that you can expect common kuhli loaches, red-banded kuhli loaches, giant kuhli loaches, and black kuhli loaches to live for roughly the same amount of time.
Pick out whichever type of kuhli loach appeals to you the most. You can get them to live for many years in your tank so long as you care for them well.
How to Help Kuhli Loaches Live Longer
There are a number of different things you can do to help your kuhli loaches thrive. You can keep them in good health by focusing on the basics.
Below, you’ll learn about the specific things you need to do to keep these fish alive for as long as possible. If you follow this advice it’ll be easier to keep them alive for ten years or more.
1 – Focus on Water Quality
Focusing on water quality is smart when you want the fish to stay alive and healthy. You need to make sure that you get the water parameters right.
Monitor the pH balance of the tank to ensure that it stays between 5.5 and 6.5. You can test the water using a pH balance testing kit every so often.
Use a heater to keep the water temperature between 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The heater helps to avoid exposing the kuhli loaches to water temperature fluctuations.
Remember that these fish need you to keep the tank clean. Do your best to do weekly water changes and focus on tank maintenance.
If you put in the effort, it should be easy to maintain high water quality. Your kuhli loaches will be far less likely to get sick and die early if the water quality is consistently excellent.
2 – The Tank Size Matters
Getting the right tank size is important when you’re trying to keep the kuhli loaches in good health. Like many types of fish, kuhli loaches don’t like being put in cramped tanks.
It’s not wise to try to force kuhli loaches to live in small tanks. Generally, you want to have at least 20 gallons of space for these fish.
However, it’s better to go with an even larger tank. You can keep three kuhli loaches in a 29-gallon tank comfortably.
If you want to keep more of them you can buy an even bigger tank. Going with a bigger tank makes the fish happier overall.
It also makes it easier to keep the fish tank clean. Smaller tanks get dirty faster and can be more difficult to maintain.
3 – Kuhli Loaches Need Friends
These fish need to be kept in appropriately-sized groups. While they aren’t schooling fish, they are fish that like to live in groups.
You should keep no fewer than three kuhli loaches in the tank. If you want to get the best results, it’d be better to go with six or more kuhli loaches.
These fish feel much happier and more confident when kept among more of their own kind. When there are too few fish in the tank they will be overly shy and will hide even more often than usual.
Do your best to buy enough kuhli loaches so they can be happy. Make sure that you buy a tank that is big enough for the number of fish that you choose as well.
4 – Feed the Loaches Well
Feeding kuhli loaches won’t be hard since they aren’t picky eaters. Even so, you need to feed the loaches well without going overboard.
These fish like to eat sinking nutritional pellets or wafers. This is the type of food you’ll give the fish daily.
Then you supplement that by giving the fish protein-rich foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms. The fish also like to eat green veggies such as kale and lettuce.
Feed these fish twice per day and give them only as much as they can eat in two minutes each time. This keeps them from overeating.
5 – Hiding Spots Are Necessary
These fish won’t feel comfortable in the tank if they don’t have hiding spots. You must ensure that there are more than enough hiding spots in the tank.
Otherwise, the fish might become stressed and this can cause issues with sickness. They like to hide in little caves as well as driftwood.
It’s wise to put plants in the tank as well. This will ensure that the fish feel comfortable in the tank.
Common plant types such as java ferns, anubias plants, and java moss will work well. Floating plants such as hornwort will be good choices, too.
Final Thoughts
You have a much better idea of how you can keep kuhli loaches alive for a long time now. They can live for ten years or longer in a fish tank.
If you want your fish to have a shot at living for fourteen years it’s important to focus on caring for them well. Give them a tank that’s the right size and make sure that you focus on keeping the water quality high.
Feed the fish very well and be sure not to go overboard when feeding them. Keep the fish in a tank that has plenty of hiding spots, too.
These fish do best in groups of three or more. If you want the fish to be more confident and active in the tank it’s best to go with six kuhli loaches or more.
You’ll have a good time caring for kuhli loaches and you’ll find that they’re very beginner-friendly. It shouldn’t be tough to keep these fish alive for around ten years so long as you’re paying attention to their needs.
Be sure to let others know what you learned about kuhli loaches today. You might be able to help friends or family decide whether kuhli loaches are right for their tanks.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.
Elaine
Thursday 13th of July 2023
The two Kuhli loaches that JD Baker entrusted to me when he departed the mainland in June of 2000 still look about the same as they did then, only twenty-three years later. I think that they were about two years old when I got them. They're in the same 29-gallon tank that I bought from JD in 2000. They get sinking wafers once a day. Keeping the pH low is challenging given our alkaline desert water. I clean the filter once a week and do a 1/3 water change when I remember. Since I got a new light last year the algae are prolific. The other occupants of the tank have changed over time. The one that ate all the plants has been rehomed. We're down to one tiger barb from three and one clown loach from two - I meant to rehome the lone clown loach but I was traveling and then just been busy since then and it looks okay.