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Kuhli LoachPrickly Eye, Coolie Loach, Giant Coolie Loach, Leopard Loach Family: Cobitidae
Latest Reader Comment - See More I wonder if this loach will eat small snails. I gotta get ride of these things they are getting out of control.... (more) jamal 2008-07-20
The wiggly little Kuhli Loach keeps quite busy scurrying around plants and roots, squeezing between rocks, and exploring cracks and crevices searching for food. These great little cleaners make a welcome addition to a community aquarium, snacking on foods left uneaten by the other fish!These active fascinating little fish are exported by the millions. Though peaceful, the Kuhli Loach is nocturnal and is most active at night. They can also be quite shy and will seldom be seen if kept alone. This doesn't mean they are a schooling fish, as they are not, but they are more comfortable and more likely to come out of hiding if they have some companions. A group of a half dozen or so will make them more prone to behave as they would in nature. They are quite hardy and can live for several years. The Kuhli Loach's body has a pinkish yellow background color crossed by 12 to 17 vertical dark bars and has three bars on its head. There are no scales on the head, the eyes are covered by a transparent skin with a short spine in front of them, and they have 3 pairs of whisker-like barbels. The dorsal and pelvic fins are set very far back with the anal fin set at the end of the base of the dorsal fin. This little fish was originally named and is best known as the Kuhli Loach or Prickly Eye, but there are quite a few other common names often associated with this fish. For example, in the United States this loach is sometimes also called the Coolie Loach, Giant Coolie Loach, or Leopard Loach.
For more Information on keeping this fish see:
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| Geographic Distribution Pangio kuhlii |
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| Data provided by FishBase.org |
Since they are omnivorous, the Kuhli Loach will generally eat all kinds of small live and frozen foods and meat based foods are relished the most. They also like sinking pelleted and tablet foods, flakes, and a bit of vegetable foods such as algae wafers. To keep a good balance give them a high quality prepared food everyday. Feed tubifex worms, brine shrimp (either live or frozen), mosquito larvae, and daphnia as a treat.
This fish will do well in a smaller aquarium (ideally 20 gallons or so) with lots of plants and places for retreat, such as rocks, caves, and roots. Also use subdued lighting. They do best in soft, slightly acidic water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. The substrate needs to be a fine gravel or sand that does not have sharp edges and they will also enjoy a bit of peat moss spread over the substrate to simulate the natural mulm found in their native environment.
Distribution:
The Kuhli Loaches are found in southeast Asia; Sumatra, Singapore,
western Malaysia, Java, Borneo, and Thailand. They live in sandy areas
of rivers and mountain streams.
Size - Weight:
These fish can get up to 4 inches (10 cm), though they are
usually smaller in the aquarium.
Social Behaviors:
A peaceful community fish and a great scavenger of uneaten
foods that settle to the bottom of the aquarium. They hide during the
day, but are quite lively and active in the evening. Though they do not
school, they will be more likely to come out of hiding if they are kept
with some companions. A singly kept Kuhli Loach will seldom be seen.
Sexual Differences:
Unknown, though a female with eggs will be plumper. (See
the top photo above.)
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
These fish are mostly bottom dwellers.
Acceptable Water Conditions:
Hardness: to 5° dH
Ph: 5.5 - 6.5
Temp: 73-86° F (24-30° C), they can tolerate low 80°s for
a short period.
Breeding/Reproduction:
Not much is known about the breeding habits of the Kuhli
Loach, though they have been bred successfully in the aquarium. They scatter
bright green adhesive eggs underneath floating plants where the eggs then
attach to the stems and roots. The eggs have been described by Herbert
Axelrod as a type of bubble nest, with each egg enclosed in a bubble.
They are not yet bred commercially.
Availability:
The Kuhli Loach is readily available.
| Latest Comments |
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| I wonder if this loach will eat small snails. I gotta get ride of these things they are getting out of control.
2008-07-20 |
| I bought 6 of these one day when they were on sale, 3 for $1.99 - love them so much I bought six more when they weren't on sale! They are shy for sure, but that makes seeing one of them poking a head out from a hiding place all that more special. And of the six in the gourami tank, two are quite active all the time.
2008-03-11 |
| I had 2 of these wonderful creatures in my first tank and they disappeared. I kinda forgot about them and a year later while thoroughly cleaning the tank they were both alive and very fat! One started coming out regularly, and would swim in circles! I just got a new 5 gallon eclipse which i decorated with an asian temple decoration. It has 4 small openings and he quickly found this and now lives in the asian temple, every once in a while sticking his head out. Awesome! He doesn't bother his tank mates and has such a mysterious personality! I love him!
2008-01-05 |
| just got 3 neon tetras and the coolie loach likes racing them!
2007-08-30 |
| Had one of these a few years ago. It was one of the hardiest fish I have ever had. Once, it managed to get out of the tank during a water change, and starting moving across the floor. Then, we didn't see him for months and had assumed he died/had been eaten. When the tank was finally empty, we took out all of the decor and after about 5 hours, found him hiding in a hollow rock. He lived for months after that.
2007-05-24 |
Author: Clarice Brough. CFS.
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