Dojo (Weather) Loach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Cobitidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The dojo or weather loach is a hardy, eel-shaped bottom-dweller native to slow rivers, ponds, ricefields and muddy backwaters across East Asia, from Siberia and Japan south to northern Vietnam. Famous for growing restless and swimming excitedly ahead of falling barometric pressure, it is a long-lived, peaceful and remarkably cold-tolerant fish that thrives in unheated tanks and ponds. It spends much of its day rooting through soft sand and even burying itself completely, so it needs room to roam and a bottom it can safely dig.
Care
Keep a group of three or more in a long, unheated or coolwater tank (ideally 18-23 C) with a deep bed of soft sand for burrowing, gentle flow and plenty of shady cover. A notorious escape artist that also gulps air at the surface, so fit a tight lid and guard filter intakes.
Diet
Omnivorous sand-sifter that hunts insect larvae, small crustaceans and detritus; offer sinking dried foods plus regular frozen or live bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (15)
Possible with care (214)
Acei CichlidAfrican Butterfly CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAngelfishAssassin SnailAuratus CichlidBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Moor GoldfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChili RasboraChinese Algae EaterChocolate GouramiClown KillifishClown PlecoCobalt Blue ZebraCochu's Blue TetraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCongo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDiamond TetraDogtooth CichlidDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEmerald CoryEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGlowlight TetraGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden JulieGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishGreen Neon TetraGreen TerrorGuppyHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiHongi CichlidJack DempseyJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidJulii CoryKenyi CichlidKeyhole CichlidKissing GouramiKribensisKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLemon TetraLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMedaka RicefishMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOranda GoldfishOtocinclusParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPeacock CichlidPearl GouramiPenguin TetraPictus CatfishPlatyPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Whiptail CatfishRed Zebra CichlidRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieRosy TetraRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSalt and Pepper CorySalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSerpae TetraSeverumShubunkin GoldfishSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSimilis Shell DwellerSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUmbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryVenustus (Giraffe Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo LoachZebra DanioZebra Mbuna
Avoid (42)
Adonis PlecoAltum AngelfishBala SharkChocolate CichlidClown LoachCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCuckoo CatfishDemon EartheaterDiscusDuboisi TropheusEndlicheri BichirFrontosaGerman Blue RamGoby CichlidGreen DiscusGreen Spotted PufferfishHeckel DiscusIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiMalawi HawkMasked JulieMollyOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRoyal PlecoSailfin MollySailfin PlecoSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSwordtailTropheusUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Wolf CichlidZebra Pleco
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Dojo (Weather) Loach need?
- A Dojo (Weather) Loach needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres (52.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Dojo (Weather) Loach need?
- Dojo (Weather) Loach does best at 5–25 °C (41–77 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 1–12 °dGH.
- What group size does a Dojo (Weather) Loach need?
- Dojo (Weather) Loach is a social species — keep a group of at least 3 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Dojo (Weather) Loach suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Dojo (Weather) Loach is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature5–25°C
Optimal temp.18–23°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)1–12°d
Carbonate (KH)1–10°d
Adult size25 cm
Min. volume≥ 200 L
Min. tank length≥ 120 cm
Group size≥ 3
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~10 yrs
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