Tank mates for kuhli loaches

Good Compatible tank mates (84)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

• Angelfish

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 29+ gal

• Betta fish

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal

• Bronze corydoras

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Cherry shrimp

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+

  Kuhli loach will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Dwarf gourami

  7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal

• Guppy

  5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

• Nerite snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal

• African dwarf frog

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+

• Amano shrimp

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

  Kuhli loach will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Assassin snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal

• Bala shark

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · groups of 5+

• Black skirt tetra

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Cardinal tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Cherry barb

  5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Chili rasbora

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Clown loach

  25 cm (9.8 in) · 180+ gal · groups of 5+

• Dwarf neon rainbowfish

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Ember tetra

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+

• Ghost shrimp

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

  Kuhli loach will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Glowlight tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Harlequin rasbora

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Honey gourami

  5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal

• Julii corydoras

  5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Malaysian trumpet snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal

• Otocinclus

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Pearl gourami

  11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal

• Platy

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+

• Pygmy corydoras

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Ramshorn snail

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal

• Rummy-nose tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+

• Siamese algae eater

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal

• Silver dollar

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+

• Sterbai corydoras

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Three spot gourami

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal

• X-ray tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Yoyo loach

  13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+

• African butterfly fish

  11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal

• Bamboo shrimp

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal

  Kuhli loach will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Black neon tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Black phantom tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bleeding heart tetra

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+

• Bloodfin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bumblebee catfish

  7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal

• Clown killifish

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+

• Clown pleco

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal

• Congo tetra

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+

• Diamond tetra

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Dwarf chain loach

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• Emerald green corydoras

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+

• Emperor tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Endler's livebearer

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

• Forktail blue-eye

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Glass catfish

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• Golden wonder killifish

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal

• Head and tail light tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Kubotai rasbora

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+

• Lambchop rasbora

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Lemon tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Marbled hatchetfish

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Peacock gudgeon

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+

• Penguin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Red rainbowfish

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+

• Ropefish

  35 cm (13.8 in) · 75+ gal

• Rosy loach

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Rosy tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Scarlet badis

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal

• Serpae tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 10+

• Sparkling gourami

  3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+

• Swordtail

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+

• Thai micro crab

  1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+

• Threadfin rainbowfish

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Tinfoil barb

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 200+ gal · groups of 6+

• Upside-down catfish

  9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+

• Vampire shrimp

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal

  Kuhli loach will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Zebra loach

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+

• Black ruby barb

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Dwarf rasbora

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Flame tetra

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Green neon tetra

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Keyhole cichlid

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+

• Least killifish

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+

• Moonlight gourami

  14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal

• Silvertip tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Thick-lipped gourami

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal

Caution Possible, with care (47)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

• Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
  • Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Common pleco · 150+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Neon tetra · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Tiger barb · 29+ gal
  • Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like kuhli loaches.
• Zebra danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
  • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kuhli loaches.
• Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
• Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Denison barb · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
  • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
  • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• German blue ram · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Kribensis · 29+ gal
  • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Molly · 29+ gal
  • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
  • One prefers soft water and the other hard water (GH 2–10 vs 15–30 dGH).
• Mystery snail · 10+ gal
  • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7 vs 7.2–8).
• Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
  • Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
  • Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Rosy barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
  • Senegal bichir may eat kuhli loaches, especially young or small ones.
  • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kuhli loaches.
• Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Black ghost knifefish · 125+ gal
  • Black ghost knifefish may eat kuhli loaches, especially young or small ones.
• Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
  • Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like kuhli loaches.
• Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
• Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Giant danio · 55+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Gold barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
  • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kuhli loaches.
• Odessa barb · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Panda garra · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Paradise fish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
  • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (5.5–7 vs 7.5–8.5).
• Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Severum · 55+ gal
  • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller kuhli loaches.
• Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kuhli loaches, which use the same area.
• Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
• Pearl danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Variatus platy · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (18)

• Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Kuhli loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
• Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Kuhli loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
• Oscar: Oscar can eat kuhli loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches.
• Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches.
• Discus: They need different temperatures: Kuhli loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
• Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Kuhli loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
• Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Kuhli loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches.
• Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
• Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Kuhli loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Kuhli loaches don't belong in that setup.
• White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Kuhli loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
• Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Kuhli loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Frontosa: They need very different water: pH 5.5–7 vs 8–9. Frontosa can eat kuhli loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Kuhli loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches.
• Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches.
• Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Kuhli loaches don't belong in that setup.