Loach Species Profiles

[Lupin]

Horse-faced Loach (Acantopsis choirorhynchus)

Scientific Name: Acantopsis choirorhynchus
Common name: Horse-faced Loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 8 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin:
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Community setup.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 55g for a group of 3-4.
Narrative:

 

[Lupin]

Kuhli Loach (covering all species available)

Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii
Common name: Kuhli loach, Eel loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 4 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Indonesia (varies with most species)
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Small peaceful tankmates such as Microrasbora erythromicron and Danio margaritatus are very suitable with kuhli loaches.
Diet:
These fish do not eat snails contrary to other people's belief. The shape of their mouth is not designed for such task at all and would be less effective when compared to the botiine loaches. As these fish have a rather small mouth, make sure to feed them tiny morsels. It is advisable to feed them mainly at night as these fish are rather nocturnal.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g minimum for a group of 8-10.
Narrative:
Pangio spp. have a rather serpentine body shape and grow up to four inches in length. They are quite suitable for community setups and as these are rather sociable fish, do not keep them in less than five in number or you will never be able to see them. They prefer a tank with plenty of hiding places, soft substrate and subdued lighting. They are also quite adept at avoiding being caught due to the fact they can bury themselves under substrate and can even slip behind decorations with ease and inside filter intakes so make sure all filter intakes have been blocked. Do not use rough and sharp objects for the tank containing Pangios as these are prone to injuring themselves in their dash.

These fish do not eat snails contrary to other people's belief. The shape of their mouth is not designed for such task at all and would be less effective when compared to the botiine loaches. As these fish have a rather small mouth, make sure to feed them tiny morsels. It is advisable to feed them mainly at night as these fish are rather nocturnal.
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[Lupin]

Ladder Loach (Botia rostrata)

Scientific Name: Botia rostrata
Common name: Ladder Loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 8 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin:
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Slow moving and long finned specimens will not be able to handle the feisty nature of these loaches so keeping them with barbs, danios, rasboras and other fast moving species is hugely recommended.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for a group of 5.
Narrative:

 

[Lupin]

Orange-finned Loach (Yasuhikotakia modesta)

Scientific Name: Yasuhikotakia modesta
Common name: Red-finned loach, Orange-finned loach, Yellow-finned loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 10 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand
Temperament: extremely aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Usually feisty tankmates that can handle their aggression are recommended as tankmates with this fish such as tiger barbs, arulius barbs and garras.

Due to their attitude, they may be best kept in a tank with Yasuhikotakia morleti, Yasuhikotakia eos, Syncrossus spp and other large and aggressive loaches.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: Due to their slow growth rate, a 75g can handle 6-8 of these fish. An upgrade in tank size will be needed once they reach six inches in length as they tend to cover large areas as they clash to settle territorial disputes.
Narrative:
Yasuhikotakia modesta is another popular loach although second only to the Chromobotia macracanthus. They are extremely aggressive so it is unwise to try them in community setups where they will inflict physical damage on their fellow tankmates. A large tank should be in order due to their potential size and as they are rather feisty, they need a very spacious tank where they can mark their boundaries and establish social hierarchy.

These have long been confused with Yasuhikotakia lecontei. They are quite discernable due to the fact Yasuhikotakia lecontei has a more slender body shape and are almost silvery in color compared to the Yasuhikotakia modesta who has a more compact body shape appearance. Several morphs are available often with orange to yellow fins and a few times, some have rather pink body.

Be careful when attempting to catch them because like all other botiine loaches, they have a spine found under each eye as a means of defense mechanism.

Lastly, there have been dyed specimens circulating around. Why they were dyed despite their natural coloration is not understood. These fish do not need improvement in their natural coloration. There is no reason to condone such act of cruelty. These are quite easily distinguished by splotches of color around the body which is quite different from the ones that are not dyed.

 

[Lupin]

Polka-dotted Loach (Schistura corica)

Scientific Name: Schistura corica
Common name: Polka-dotted Loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 2.5 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range:
Origin:
Temperament: mildy peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 20g for a group of 4.
Narrative:

 

[Lupin]

Queen Loach (Botia dario)

Scientific Name: Botia dario
Common name: Queen loach, Bengal loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 4 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Bangladesh
Temperament: mildly peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Usually feisty tankmates that can handle their aggression are recommended as tankmates with this fish such as tiger barbs, arulius barbs and garras.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for six adults.
Narrative:
Botia dario are sociable loaches and therefore should be kept in groups of no less than five. Tank should have subdued lighting, soft substrate and numerous hiding places. Plants should also be strong enough not to be easily uprooted from their constant foraging.

These fish are found in Bangladesh hence they are also called 'Bengal' loaches. They establish pecking order within their group often creating skirmishes as they battle for food. These fish can be fed with almost anything you can give them such as bloodworms, shrimps, mussels, chopped earthworms and commercial foods.

Like other loaches, this species have little or no scales at all so they fall under the category of scaleless fish where all scaleless fish will succumb easily to various medications if use at heavy doses. It is always advisable to treat with only half of the recommended dosage so as not to further endanger the health of the fish. Do not use salt if you intend to treat the loaches. The same thing applies to almost all bottom dwellers as salt can burn their skin.


This photo is owned by Ashleigh, a member of MFK.

 

[Lupin]

Red-tailed Sand Loach (Schistura mahnerti)

Scientific Name: Schistura mahnerti
Common name: Red-tailed Sand Loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 4 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range:
Origin:
Temperament: mildly aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Usually feisty tankmates that can handle their aggression are recommended as tankmates with this fish such as tiger barbs, arulius barbs and garras.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 30g for a pair.
Narrative:

 

[Lupin]

Skunk Loach (Yasuhikotakia morleti)

Scientific Name: Yasuhikotakia morleti
Common name: Skunk loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 4 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand
Temperament: extremely aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Usually feisty tankmates that can handle their aggression are recommended as tankmates with this fish such as tiger barbs, arulius barbs and garras.

Due to their attitude, they may be best kept in a tank with Yasuhikotakia modesta, Yasuhikotakia eos, Syncrossus spp and other large and aggressive loaches.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 55g minimum for over 15 skunk loaches with several hiding places for them to establish territories.
Narrative:
Do not let this fish's diminutive size and cute appearance deceived you. They are, by far, one of the nastiest loaches you can ever see despite their size. Due to their attitude, they do not make good community fish at all and will inflict physical damage if care is not taken in selecting their tankmates properly.

Like all other loaches, they form a social hierarchy enjoyed by most hobbyists. In a large aquarium with plenty of hiding places provided, they will forever clash against each other often making loud clicking noises. They can be kept with larger aggressive loaches such as the Yasuhikotakia modesta, Yasuhikotakia eos and Syncrossus spp.

 

[Lupin]

Weather Loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)

Scientific Name: Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Common name: Weather Loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 10 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 15-26 degrees Celsius (59-78 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Asia
Temperament: peaceful
Compatible Tankmates:
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 75g for a group of 3.
Narrative:

 

[Lupin]

Yoyo Loach (Botia almorhae)

Scientific Name: Botia almorhae
Common name: Yoyo loach, Pakistani loach
Care Level: easy
Size: 6 inches
pH range: 6.0-7.0
Temperature range: 24-28 degrees Celsius (76-82 degrees Fahrenheit)
Origin: Bangladesh, India, Nepal
Temperament: peaceful to slightly aggressive
Compatible Tankmates:
Slow moving and long finned specimens will not be able to handle the feisty nature of these loaches so keeping them with barbs, danios, rasboras and other fast moving species is hugely recommended.
Diet: Meaty foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, snails, mussels and shrimps are appreciated greatly.
Tank Size for Adult: 40g minimum for a group of 3-5.
Narrative:
Botia almorhae is one of the most commonly available loaches in the hobby. It is very fortunate that they grow no more than six inches which makes them quite suitable for smaller aquarium setups (although it should be no smaller than 40 gallons). They are one of the most boisterous loaches. They are not as nocturnal as the other loaches and will often be seen interacting a lot with each other most of the day. They are also recorded to be one of the fastest growing loaches.

No two fish have similar markings. As they grow, you will notice that the patterns between the two loaches tend to differ. Some may eventually develop reticulated patterns branching out from what seemed simple yoyo patterns.

No successful captive breeding has ever been reported despite several female specimens found to be filled with roe. Males usually are identified by the redness found around their mouths.