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Contents
Overview
The kuhli loach looks like a tiny 3-4 inch (8-10 cm) eel with black bands over a yellow-pink body. It comes from slow forest streams and swampy areas in Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java), where the water is soft and acidic and the bottom is covered in leaves. Several very similar Pangio species are sold under this name, and their care is practically identical.
It is peaceful, harmless and fascinating to watch once it feels safe: it snakes along the bottom, threads through roots and, in a group, comes out far more often. It is nocturnal and shy, so it isn't for keepers who want constant action, but it is a great addition to a calm planted community tank.
Care and tank setup
A group of 6 or more does well in a cycled 15-gallon (60 L) or larger tank with a heater and moderate flow. The bigger the group, the bolder they get.
- Substrate: soft, fine sand is a must; they burrow, and sharp gravel damages their barbels and skin.
- Decor: driftwood, leaf litter, caves and dense plants, with floating plants to dim the light.
- Escape-proofing: a tight lid and a sponge over the filter intake; they slip through any gap.
- Tank mates: small, peaceful mid and top dwellers like rasboras, small tetras and honey gouramis. Safe with adult shrimp.
Common mistakes are keeping just one or two, which hide all day, and adding them to an immature tank. They are also sensitive to medications, so use reduced doses if the tank needs treatment.
Feeding
An omnivore that forages on the bottom, mostly at dusk and overnight. Offer sinking wafers and pellets, plus frozen or live foods several times a week such as bloodworms, brine shrimp or daphnia. Drop some food in right after lights-out so it actually reaches them before other fish clean it up. They don't live on leftovers and need their own portion.
Breeding
Spawning in aquariums is uncommon and usually happens by surprise in mature tanks with large groups. They scatter greenish, sticky eggs among the roots of floating plants or dense vegetation and provide no parental care. Very soft, acidic water, a lowered water level and slightly cooler water changes seem to trigger it. Most commercially available fish come from farms that use hormones.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Kuhli loach. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Cherry barb Puntius titteya 16 gal (60 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) 
Tiger barb Puntigrus tetrazona 26 gal (100 L) · 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) 
Betta fish Betta splendens 7 gal (25 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare 53 gal (200 L) · 75–84 °F (24–29 °C) 
Amano shrimp Caridina multidentata 11 gal (40 L) · 64–82 °F (18–28 °C) 
Cherry shrimp Neocaridina davidi 5 gal (20 L) · 64–81 °F (18–27 °C) 
Dwarf gourami Trichogaster lalius 16 gal (60 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Rummy-nose tetra Hemigrammus rhodostomus 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Kuhli loach, and why.
- Yellow lab cichlid: incompatible pH
- Molly: incompatible pH
- Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
- Ember tetra: one may eat the other due to size
- Nerite snail: incompatible pH, eats snails
- Horned nerite snail: incompatible pH, eats snails
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Kuhli loach healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Kuhli loach need?
At least about 60 liters for a group of at least 6 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Kuhli loach need?
Between 24 and 28 °C, with a pH of 5.5 to 7.
What fish can live with the Kuhli loach?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Cherry barb, Tiger barb, Betta fish, Harlequin rasbora and Neon tetra. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Kuhli loach be kept with shrimp?
Yes: it usually won’t eat adult shrimp, though some shrimplets may get picked off. A tank with plenty of moss gives the babies cover.
