Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
Cobitidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The kuhli loach is a slender, eel-like bottom dweller banded in dark brown and gold, native to peat-stained forest streams of Southeast Asia. Shy and largely nocturnal, it burrows into fine sand and threads through leaf litter, roots and caves. Though often sold singly, it is a social animal that becomes far bolder and more visible when kept in groups of six or more.
Care
Keep 6+ over soft sand with plenty of hiding spots and a tight lid, as it is a notorious escape artist. Peaceful and best with calm tankmates in soft, warm water.
Diet
Omnivorous scavenger; offer sinking foods, frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. Being nocturnal, it may need feeding after lights-out.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (39)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBleeding Heart TetraCherry BarbChocolate CichlidCockatoo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf RasboraEmperor TetraGlowlight TetraGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGreen Neon TetraHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraKeyhole CichlidLambchop RasboraLemon TetraMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMarble HatchetfishPeaceful BettaPenguin TetraPurple Emperor TetraRosy TetraRummynose TetraSerpae TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishSveni EartheaterThreadfin Rainbowfish
Possible with care (120)
African ButterflyfishAltum AngelfishAmano ShrimpAngelfishBamboo ShrimpBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue AcaraBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBrichard's TeleogrammaBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidCardinal TetraCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbCherry ShrimpChili RasboraChinese Algae EaterChocolate GouramiClown KillifishClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidEmber TetraEmerald CoryFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Firemouth CichlidFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGerman Blue RamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden Wonder KillifishGreen DiscusHeckel DiscusHoney GouramiJack DempseyJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidJulii CoryKissing GouramiKribensisLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasMedaka RicefishMoonlight GouramiNeon TetraOdessa BarbOtocinclusPanda CorydorasParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPearl DanioPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPictus CatfishPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPygmy CorydorasRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidReticulated Hillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoSalt and Pepper CorySalvini CichlidScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSeverumSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSpotted HoploSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraT-Bar CichlidThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Umbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo LoachZebra DanioZebra Pleco
Avoid (112)
Acei CichlidAdonis PlecoAssassin SnailAuratus CichlidBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishBlue Dolphin CichlidBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCalvus CichlidCelebes RainbowfishClown LoachCobalt Blue ZebraColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDemon EartheaterDogtooth CichlidDuboisi TropheusDwarf Petricola CatfishElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElongate MbunaEndler's LivebearerEndlicheri BichirEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFigure-8 PufferFive-bar CichlidFrontosaGoby CichlidGolden JulieGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorGuppyHongi CichlidIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKoiLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLivingstoniMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMollyMultifasciatus Shell DwellerMystery SnailNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPeacock CichlidPike CichlidPlatyPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRamshorn SnailRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed TerrorRed Zebra CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy BarbRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSailfin MollySailfin PlecoSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySimilis Shell DwellerStar SapphireSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSwordtailTaiwan Reef CichlidTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidThreadfin PetrochromisTropheusTurquoise RainbowfishVenustus (Giraffe Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowWolf CichlidZebra Mbuna
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Full tank-mates guide with reasons →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 Kuhli Loach need?
- A Kuhli Loach needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Kuhli Loach need?
- Kuhli Loach does best at 24–28 °C (75.2–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7 and a general hardness of 1–10 °dGH.
- What group size does a Kuhli Loach need?
- Kuhli Loach is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Kuhli Loach suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Kuhli 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
Temperature24–28°C
Optimal temp.25–27°C
pH5.5–7
Hardness (GH)1–10°d
Carbonate (KH)0–6°d
Adult size10 cm
Min. volume≥ 75 L
Min. tank length≥ 60 cm
Group size≥ 6
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~10 yrs
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