Can Gold Kuhli Loach live with Cardinal Shrimp?
Caution — with care
Why
- Only a narrow water hardness overlap — keep both around 8–10 dGH.
- Gold Kuhli Loach leaves adult Cardinal Shrimp alone but eats the babies — the colony survives with plenty of cover.
- No overlapping pH: Gold Kuhli Loach wants 5.5–7 but Cardinal Shrimp wants 7.5–8.5.
Side-by-side
| Gold Kuhli Loach | Cardinal Shrimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 73–86°F | 79–84°F |
| pH | 5.5–7 | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 3–10 dGH | 8–18 dGH |
| Adult size | 3.5" | 0.8" |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Peaceful |
| Min tank | 20 gal | 15 gal |
Together, plan on at least 20 gallons.
How to make it work
- Target the overlapping water-parameter range and acclimate slowly.
- Keep a large, established shrimp colony in a heavily planted tank with moss and cover so enough survive to breed.
Sort it with: GH remineraliser → Aquarium Co-Op
Where to buy
- Gold Kuhli Loach: buy at Flip Aquatics · Flip Aquatics live-arrival guarantee
- Cardinal Shrimp: buy at Flip Aquatics · Flip Aquatics live-arrival guarantee
Live-animal shipping: add a heat pack below 50°F, expect weather holds above 90°F, and schedule delivery for a moderate week when someone can receive it promptly.
Build a full tank around this stocking →Everything compatible with Gold Kuhli Loach · …with Cardinal Shrimp