Kuhli loach - Pangio kuhlii

Scientific name: Pangio kuhlii

Common name: Kuhli loach

Family: Cobitidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 7 - 10 cm (2.76 - 3.94 inch)

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Recommended pH range for the species: 6.5 - 7

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 8 - 12°N (142.86 - 214.29ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 26 - 30 °C (78.8 - 86°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: South Asia

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: peaceful

Usual place in the tank: Bottom levels

Kuhli loach is the common name of Pangio Kuhli (or Acanthophthalmus kuhli), an eel shaped fish native from Java and Borneo. It has been bred in some aquariums but sexual differences are not really clear, maybe female is a bit bigger, but surely she is recognizable when full of eggs, because of her overgrown abdomen.

Pangio Kuhli can reach 8 – 10 cm and has a thin long light yellow body with big spots over its back, you can also find kuhli with black colour covering all the body and leaving only some yellow stripes, sometimes in shops you can also find an albino colouration with white body and pink spots at the place of black.

They are really peaceful fish and are ideal for community tank, especially with other Asian fish; they do not require particular chemical values, a neutral pH and soft medium hardness are suitable for them; temperature is fine between 75°F and 86°F (24°C – 30°C).

Due their really shy behaviour they spend the most of time hidden among plants and decoration, for this reason, to avoid stress situations, it is better to add kuhli only in working aquariums; This mean they can suffer problems in new tanks, where the balance has not yet been reached and plants still need great works of maintenance.

Living mostly on the ground they eat the rest of other fish food, anyway they need to be fed as well, you can use pellets food for fish or other non floating foods.Kuhli loach is also known as Coolie loach.Description provided by ©Michela Ferretti.

Pictures

Thanks to L. Staunton!