3 Kuhli Loaches (Pangio Kuhlii)

Scientific Name: Pangio Kuhlii

Common Name:  Kuhli Loach

Other Common Name: coolie loach, leopard loach, black kuhli loach

Temperament: Peaceful - great with other fish and various tank mates

Diet: Omnivorous.  Adult kuhli loaches will readily eat most flake foods and algae wafers, as well as freeze-dried daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp. Kuhli loaches eat snails as well.

Breeding Kuhli Loaches: Easy

Care Level: Easy

Origin: Southeast Asia

Found in Wild: Yes

Life Span: 3-5  years

Full Grown Size: Approx. 4 inches

Approximate Purchase Size: 3 inches

General Water Parameters for your kuhli loach:

pH Range: 6.2 - 8.0, Ideal pH: 7.2

Temperature Range: 65 - 80, Ideal Temperature: 73

GH Range: 63 - 15 dkh Ideal water Hardness: 8 dkh

KH Range:  .3-7 dkh Ideal water Hardness 4 dkh

TDS Range: 150-300

Minimum Tank Size: 5 Gallon

Currently Being Fed: Baby Shrimp Food

How many kuhli loaches should be kept together?

Since Kuhli loaches are 3-4 inches long, they have very low bioloads (in other words, they do not generate much waste). , we recommend you keep at least a group of three – six loaches to visit the 20-gallon aquarium to be safe and explore with them.

Do kuhli loaches eat other fish?

Kuhli loaches consume larva, vegetation and small crustaceans. Kuhli loaches are classified as scavenger fish. Therefore they consume everything destined at the bottom of the aquarium. An omnivore animal, kuhli loach eats larvae, plants and crustaceans. The are peaceful with other tank mates, especially freshwater fish since kuhli loaches are not an aggressive fish.

Does Kuhli Loach eat shrimp?

Kuhli Loaches can certainly eat frozen brine shrimp or freshly hatched brine shrimp, but dwarf aquarium shrimp should be safe in this fish tank. Other live foods such as daphnia are good for them to eat as well. Kuhli loaches are peaceful tank mates and perfect to keep with your shrimp. As long as your kuhli loaches are fed well in your home aquarium, they should make to be great tank mates with shrimp, here at the shrimp farm we think they would actually be ideal tank mates.

What fish can go with Kuhli Loach?

Suitable tankmates are Danos, Gouramis, Tetras, Rasboras, and even some bigger fish. Red Cherry Shrimp and corydora are also good tankmates with Kuhli Loach fish. Most fish do super well with kuhli loaches since they are a non aggressive fish aka a "community fish". Really big fish should be added with caution to make sure they get along. Please note, most of the fish listed above WILL eat tiny shrimp, a rule of thumb is any live food that will fit in a fish's mouth, they will most often try to eat.

What Plants can be kept with kuhli loaches?

You can keep a large number of plants or mosses in your fish tank. Most of our fish species, including kuhli loaches love java moss, floating plants, and really any type of plant that we offer. The plants that we offer are great because they act like a fish's natural habitat. Other community fish that we offer that would be perfect for this fish tank would make good tank mates with the kuhli loaches. Kuhli loaches love to hangout on the bottom of the tank, and if you have a different fish species roaming around the middle to top portion of the tank, it would be ideal to have some floating plants for all to eat off of.

How do you breed a kuhli loach?

To set up a breeding tank of kuhli loaches, you will need to review the appropriate food and diet info of kuhli loaches to make sure they are well fed. Breeding kuhli loaches ideally you will have a spawning mop or dense vegetation should be provided in the tank. Floating plants also are ideal to use in addition to the spawning mop. If breeding is successful, the female kuhli loaches will lay a few hundred fish eggs among plants or on solid surfaces such as wood or rocks. After spawning, the parents and other adult fish should be removed from the tank to prevent them from eating their own eggs (most fish will try to eat their own fry). The eggs will hatch after four days and the fry should be fed liquid food, frozen food, and small live food. This is why breeding tank or care tank for the babies to hatch into is ideal. Breeding kuhli loaches is a rewarding experience.

What other types of Kuhli loach exist?

There are several subtypes of kuhli loaches, but kuhli loach care is important for all of them. There are black kuhli loaches, a leopard loach, and more in the aquarium trade. All of these kuhli loaches are considered "scaleless fish" because they do not have any scales at all on them. All of the loaches above make a good option for your community tank. The leopard loach has super cool coloration, but the black kuhli loaches seem to be more readily available for puchase. Either way, add one of theses scaleless fish to your tank today!

What is the best way to Acclimate my new Kuhli Loach?

When adding a kuhli loach to your already existing tank, it is important to take the proper steps in introducing and acclimating the kuhli loach into their new home. The whole process is extremely stressful for the fish. Acclimation is important for fish as it allows them time to adjust to the temperature and parameters of their new environment. By doing this correctly, you will reduce the chances of shock or death of your new kuhli loach. We recommend drip acclimation for fish as it is generally the best option to adjust them slowly to your tank.  You can find our Premium Drip Acclimation Kit here. 

What if I have another question about my new Kuhli Loach?

If you have a question about your kuhli loach, please email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you within 1-2 business days. We want you to be 100% satisfied with the purchase of your kuhli loach from us, so please don't hesitate to reach out.