Rainbow fish and kuhli loaches?

Anyone have experience with these guys in the same tank?  Good idea? Not so good of an idea? We have never had rainbows, but are thinking of adopting a few....

A lot depends on the rainbow species, as some get quite large. I would see no problem in a decent sized tank with a smaller 'bow, as loaches are largely nocturnal, and rainbows worship light.
The water needs should be compatible.
Rainbows like it cooler than loaches, but a happy medium at the lower end of the loach range would be fine for both.
Diet would be good.
Both species like moving water.
The loaches might annoy the rainbows or spook them at first, but within a few days, all would be worked out. Male rainbows are rough within their own species at times, but I have never had them worry about other fish.
If they spawn, the loaches will eat the eggs - hmm, I mean when they spawn. They'll do that every morning for weeks if they're healthy. But if you aren't trying to raise the tiny tiny rainbow fry (a challenge), it doesn't matter.
A key is to figure out which rainbow. There are 2 inch species, and 6 inch ones. A lot of the 'no name' aquarium hybrids top out at about 3-4 inches. So they generally need a tank about 3 feet along the front, as they are restless fish with an incredible degree of stupidity when it comes to identifying glass. In small tanks they regularly wound their noses in crashes.
The blue neon rainbows, Melanotaenia praecox can go into a 20 gallon, as long as there is only one male and he isn't an aggressive individual. Most aren't, but you get the odd one that is a hellion.

What kind of rainbows are they Shell?

Sounds like an interesting to me. What tank would these be in?

That's an interesting mixture. Rainbows are a great fish to keep, I highly recommend!

Thank you  for all of the responses! 

There are two people giving away rainbows, one has 5 boeseman rainbows, the other has 6 turquoise rainbows. We have an empty 55g here. Two possibilities:

1) transfer the two angel fish into the new 55g, add the rainbows in with the kuhli loaches and zebra loaches.

2) add the rainbow fish into the new 55g, leave the angels and loaches in the other 55g.


Thoughts on the best tank mates? 


Ps - the loaches in the 55g are nothing like the loaches in the 220g....in the 55, they hide almost all of the time.....unlike the ones in the 220g, who are always out and about! Could be their nature, or could be that they are feeling threatened by the angel fish?

Boesemani and turquoise (Melanotania lacustris) would be a display and a half. Nice...

GaryE wrote:Boesemani and turquoise (Melanotania lacustris) would be a display and a half. Nice...

Totally agree with that!

If the tank gets even a few minutes of morning sunlight, it will be an unforgettable spectacle you'll never forget. They operate their colours like they have switches when the sun hits them.

I never realized that the sun triggered this, but now that you mention it when they color up the most for me is before the light fixture turns on and the sun is hitting the tank. Shell, you won't be disappointed! They may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but they're sure perdy!

Thanks everyone! I am thinking maybe we will leave the loaches and angels together, and dedicate the other 55g to the rainbows. We don't see the loaches in the 55g very often, certainly not as much as the weather loaches in the 220g. I was concerned that maybe they were feeling threatened by the angels, but perhaps it comes down to the fact that kuhli loaches and zebra loaches are not as outgoing as weather loaches.

We are hoping to get the other 55g up and running soon - the rainbows I mentioned may no longer be available by the time the tank is ready, but I have seen many rainbows on kijiji over the last few months, so I am thinking we will be in luck when the time comes.

On the other hand, it is almost time to transfer the two new zebra loaches out of QT. So, another idea might be to adopt at least a few of the available rainbows and keep them in there until the tank is ready. Just not sure though where the QT is so small (10g)!

I love rainbows, you'll never regret getting them. This morning one of my turquoise rainbow fish had passed and now I'm down to just 2 (bought 6 of them 2.5 years ago). I also have three others from Gary.

KristaLynn wrote:I love rainbows, you'll never regret getting them.  This morning one of my turquoise rainbow fish had passed and now I'm down to just 2 (bought 6 of them 2.5 years ago).  I also have three others from Gary.  

Thanks for the comment - we are definitely on board...rainbows will be the new owners of a 55g tank! 

Still wondering the best combo...rainbows with kuhli loaches and zebra loaches, or angels with kuhlis and zebras?

I have my rainbows with 2 angels.