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Dojo Loach - Weather LoachOriental, Japanese, or Chinese Weatherfish, Dojo, AmurFamily: Cobitidae Misgurnus anguillicaudatusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken ChildsLatest Reader Comment - See More I have 2 loaches (Ken, and Sven), Sven likes to drape himself over the stuff in the tank and he looks like he's posing, and Ken, the larger of the 2 likes standing... (more) Jadey The Dojo Loach or Weather Loach is a true curiosity! Its name is derived from their habit of becoming very active when there is a weather change!Dojo Loach Contents This remarkable fish is quite hardy and adaptable, very easy to care for. They wiggle about in an eel like fashion scavenging the bottom for leftover bits of food, even munching on snails. They also like to dig and burrow into the substrate often burying themselves. Provide an aquarium that is large enough for its playful antics, have a soft substrate of sand or fine gravel, and have a good filter for the detritus they stir up. They are most active in the evening, so during the day they like hiding and resting places created with rocks and wood. Plants are nice but they should be potted. The Dojo Loach or Weather Loach is available in both its wild form and in a gold variety. In its wild form this loach has dark greenish gray to dark brown spots over a yellowish brown body (often mottled) with a paler belly. The body is cylindrical, it can be thin or heavy, and there are five pairs of barbels around the mouth. The gold variety can range from a yellow to an orange color and they are usually thin bodied. They do have spots but they are usually extremely faint. These fish have some very unique qualities. The Dojo Loach or Weather Loach are very 'pet-like'. They can be trained to take food from your hand and even enjoy being touched. They are jumpers. Should they happen to leap out of their home they can survive for a time even out of the water. A couple of ways they do this is by producing a thick mucus coating that keeps them moist; and by being able to swallow air, absorbing atmospheric oxygen through their hind gut.
The Dojo Loach or Weather Loach makes an excellent community fish with other non-aggressive tank mates. They love to socialize with other fish and loaches sometimes resting with them or sometimes chasing them about, but they don't hurt them. The Weather Loach we are describing here, Misgurnus anquillicaudatusis, is one of three species commonly referred to as a weather loach. The other two are Misgurnus fossilis and Cobitis taenia. They all come from similar environments and have similar behaviors. The two Misgurnus species are identified by their color patterns with the M. anguillicaudatus being spotted and the M fossilis having horizontal stripes along the body. It is still being discussed whether the spotted one is simply a subspecies of the striped one, though they come from different geographical areas.For more Information on keeping this fish see: |
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Care and feeding: Since they are omnivorous, the Dojo Loach or Weather Loach is not a picky eater and will generally eat all kinds of live foods, sinking pelleted and tablet foods, flakes, and algae. They like frozen foods as well. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake or tablet food everyday. Feed mosquito larvae and brine shrimp (either live or frozen), tubifex, daphnia, and some vegetable foods such as algae wafers. They will also eat snails, so are good for snail control.
This fish prefers a good sized aquarium (30 gallons or more) with places for retreat such as rocks, caves, and roots. Also use subdued lighting. They do best with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. Because they are constantly scavenging for tidbits and burying themselves in the substrate, use a sand or fine gravel that does not have sharp edges. Be sure to provide hardy plants with the roots protected.
Distribution: The Dojo Loach or Weather Loach are found in Asia: Myanmar and Northeastern Asia and southward to Central China, Japan Siberia, Korea, and Hainan. They inhabit rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and rice fields; preferring the muddy bottoms. They have also been introduced into the wilds of Australia and Hawaii.
They are a food fish in many Asian countries, especially Japan.
Size - Weight: These fish reach about 6" (15 cm) in the aquarium, but in the wild these fish are generally reported to reach up to about 10" (25 cm), and the Baensch Aquarium Atlas, Volume 2 reports up to 20" (50 cm).
Social Behaviors: A very good community fish, they get along well with other loaches and tank mates that are non-aggressive. They are quite lively and active, especially in the evening. They will scavenge about the substrate for tidbits of food and love to dig and burrow. Good for snail control.
Sexual Differences: Mature males can be identified by the second pectoral ray being long and thick, and it appears more triangular than rounded.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom: These fish are mostly bottom dwellers, but will spend some time in the middle and top of the aquarium.
Acceptable Water Conditions: Hardness: no special demands
Ph: 6.5-7.5
Temp: 50 -77° F (10 -25° C)
Breeding/Reproduction: It has been said they have been spawned accidentally, scattering tiny red adhesive eggs, but not much more is known about the breeding habits of the Dojo Loach or Weather Loach and they are not yet bred commercially.
Availability: The Dojo Loach or Weather Loach is the most common loach and is readily available.
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