Just like all other bottom dwellers, kuhli loaches require a smooth, easy to move substate as they love to dig and burrow when looking for food.
As the popularity of keeping kuhli loaches in aquariums continues to increase with each year that goes by, the number of people we see asking for advice on a kuhli loach substrate is also increasing.
It has actually managed to get to a level where we are seeing so many people reaching out about a kuhli loach substrate that we have decided to just publish a dedicated article on the topic.
We hope that our article will be able to help our readers better understand what they should be looking for in a substrate for their kuhli loaches to keep them happy as well as offer some recommendations for products.
Keep in mind that some substrate packaging from the same company can look very similar to the packaging to other substrates in their product line so always double-check what you are purchasing if you do get your substrate from a pet store.
In our opinion, the majority of our readers will be best off by going with something like the Carib Sea Crystal River Substrate as it is an excellent product that is ideal for use in aquariums with kuhli loaches.
Not only is it very budget-friendly but it meets all of the requirements of a substrate for kuhli loaches while also having an excellent reputation amongst the fish keeping community making it our primary option.
The Best Kuhli Loach Substrate!
Although there are a wide range of substrates on the market, the majority of them are not suitable for use in tanks with kuhli loaches due to the substrates being sharp.
We recommend a nice sand that is soft while also being heavy enough to re-settle after your kuhli loach digs in it to prevent it from messing up your aquarium water.
This is why we feel that Carib Sea Crystal River Substrate is the best option for anyone who has a kuhli loach in their tank.
The sand particles are small and smooth making it very easy for your kuhli loach to dig or burrow into the substrate as it wishes but the sand particles are also heavy enough to settle back to the bottom of your tank with ease too.
The individual sand particles tend to be smooth too reducing the chances of your kuhli loach having problems with cut or grazes as it swims around your tank.
This is an increasingly popular problem with substrates as providers try to reduce costs and their substrate becomes sharp in the process presenting a potential risk to bottom dwellers such as kuhli loaches.
What To Look For In A Kuhli Loach Substrate!
The main thing to look for in a substrate for kuhli loach is smooth granules that don’t compact easily while also being heavy enough to settle quickly in the tank after your kuhli loach has been digging around.
This can restrict the substrates available to you but it will keep your kuhli loach happy in its tank and reduce the chances of it having any issues with its substrate.
Depending on your level of experience, you may be able to go out and source your own substrate that is suitable for use with a kuhli loach but we would not recommend this for most people.
You really do have to know what you are doing when it comes to cleaning the substrate prior to adding it to your own aquarium if you do want to go out and source your own from a local beach or river as it is a common way for parasites, fungus, and bacterial to make their way into your tank.
This is why we recommend that you go with Carib Sea Crystal River Substrate as it removed those risks from the process while still offering an excellent substrate for your kuhli loach.
It is also surprisingly cheap when compared to some of the other suitable substrates on the market that people are using with their kuhli loaches too and any of our readers are beginners on a tight budget too.
Can Kuhli Loaches Live Without Substrate?
Although kuhli loach can live in tanks without substrate, we would not recommend it.
It is natural for kuhli loaches to want to dig and burrow into their substrate and a lack of substrate in their tanks may actually cause your kuhli loach to experience increased levels of stress and anxiety that can then result in other issues in the health of the fish too.
If you have to quarantine your kuhli loach due to a bacterial or parasitic infection in your tank then they should be fine in a tank with no substrate for a short period of time but their main tank should always have a suitable substrate in it.
We know that some pet stores keep their kuhli loaches in tanks without substrate or with an unsuitable substrate but this speaks volumes about the knowledge base of the pet trade these days.
Due to the low price of Carib Sea Crystal River Substrate, there really is no reason to be keeping your kuhli loach in a tank that does not have any substrate in it.
You should easily be able to get enough suitable substrate to use in aquariums of all sizes to help keep your kuhli loach calm and comfortable.
Conclusion
That brings our article going over the best kuhli loach substrate on the market right now to an end. It is getting more difficult to find smooth, east to dig yet easy to settle substrates these days but there are still a number of suitable options on the market if you look for them. If you are an experienced fish keeper then you can also look at getting your own substrate from a local beach or river too but we wouldent recommend this for most people as you have to know how to clean the substrate prior to adding it to your main aquarium.
