Hello; I have had five in a 55 gallon for a few years with three new banded kuhlis in QT that will go in the same tank. I have in the past kept them in 20 long tanks in smaller numbers.
I have found that they are more likely to be out and about in fairly heavy planted tanks with some sort of hiding places. I siliconed together some broken sections of a slate school blackboard in a stack. I make the spaces narrow so the kuhlis can use them but the other fish cannot.
I have only kept them with the smaller varieties of tropical fish so as to avoid the potential temptation of a larger fish seeing them as a snack. If I recall correctly they have small spines that can protrude. These may help deter some predation but I was never willing to take the chance.
As far as numbers go I have generally kept them in groups. There have been periods over the decades when circumstances found only one or two in a tank. I cannot say that there was any apparent problem with having a singleton or only two. In fact one that survived the longest for me wound up as a singleton for quite a long time. I keep them in groups because they are among my favorite fish but have no concern about having only one or two.
I suppose a 20 long has been the smallest community tank with kuhlis that I have set up in a long time. I see no particular reason why a 10 or 15 gallon cannot be used in a pinch, but have tended to use larger tanks even for the small fish types. A larger tank poses fewer problems with water quality even when the overall size of the fish is small. I suppose that I would suggest a 20 or larger for those new to the hobby and leave the issues of keeping smaller tanks going to the more experienced among us.
Good luck
I have found that they are more likely to be out and about in fairly heavy planted tanks with some sort of hiding places. I siliconed together some broken sections of a slate school blackboard in a stack. I make the spaces narrow so the kuhlis can use them but the other fish cannot.
I have only kept them with the smaller varieties of tropical fish so as to avoid the potential temptation of a larger fish seeing them as a snack. If I recall correctly they have small spines that can protrude. These may help deter some predation but I was never willing to take the chance.
As far as numbers go I have generally kept them in groups. There have been periods over the decades when circumstances found only one or two in a tank. I cannot say that there was any apparent problem with having a singleton or only two. In fact one that survived the longest for me wound up as a singleton for quite a long time. I keep them in groups because they are among my favorite fish but have no concern about having only one or two.
I suppose a 20 long has been the smallest community tank with kuhlis that I have set up in a long time. I see no particular reason why a 10 or 15 gallon cannot be used in a pinch, but have tended to use larger tanks even for the small fish types. A larger tank poses fewer problems with water quality even when the overall size of the fish is small. I suppose that I would suggest a 20 or larger for those new to the hobby and leave the issues of keeping smaller tanks going to the more experienced among us.
Good luck
