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Java Loach

Black Kuhli Loach Family: Cobitidae

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Pangio oblonga - Acanthophthalmus Javanicus Photo © Animal-World: Courtsey Ken Childs

   If you like the wiggly action of the banded kuhli loaches, but enjoy a more streamlined look, the Java Loach or Black Kuhli Loach could be just the fellow for you!

   Typical of the loaches in the genera Pangio, the Java Loach or Black Kuhli Loach spends its time actively scurrying around, over, and through the plants and ornamentation. It is scavenging for leftover foods that have settled on the bottom of the aquarium. A great little helper in keeping the aquarium clean and in good shape.

   Though active at night (as they are nocturnal) they are quite undemanding, though they do prefer to be fed at the end of the day. They are peaceful with other tank mates, and though they are not a schooling fish, they will be more likely to come out of hiding if you keep them with several of their own species. Having like companionship makes them more prone to behave as they would in nature. They are quite hardy and can live for several years.

   The Java Loach or Black Kuhli Loach is sometimes referred to as an 'unbanded coolie'. It has a body and head that is a uniform reddish brown color (slightly lighter on the underside), with a single black bar at the base of the tail. There are also several other noteworthy unbanded species in the Pangio genera, including the Cinnamon Loach Pangio pangia (previously Acanthophthalmus pangia) and Pangio borneensis (previously Acanthophthalmus borneensis).

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Java Loaches are found in Asia; Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Also possibly from India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. They live as scattered individuals in shallow sandy areas of rivers and streams.

Size - Weight:
   These fish can get up to just over 3 inches (8 cm).

Social Behaviors:
   A peaceful community fish and a great scavenger of uneaten foods that settle to the bottom of the aquarium. They hide during the day, but are quite lively and active in the evening. Though they do not school, they will be more likely to come out of hiding if they are kept with some companions. A singly kept Java Loach will seldom be seen.

Sexual Differences:
   Unknown.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish are mostly bottom dwellers.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: to 8° dH
   Ph: 6.3-6.5
   Temp: 73-77° F (23 - 25°C).

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Not much is known about the breeding habits of the Java Loach or Black Kuhli Loach, and they are not yet bred commercially.

Availability:
   The Java Loach or Black Kuhli Loach is often readily available.

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Latest Comments
I have 3 java loaches and I love them. I hope that I can get some more varieties of loaches and get a bigger tank. I am only 11 and got my fish only a couple of months ago. I think they have eaten my baby snails and are very active. dain 2009-08-12
Out of all of the fish I have (and have had) this is my favorite. They are soo amusing and cute in their own way. :) Akhera 2007-09-06
I have 3 cinnamon loaches that I rarely see. They are extremely hardy to changes in temp, water, etc. They are excellent for cleaning/stirring fine sand substrate, too. They can also help with an out of control snail population if you don't feed them for a few days. Very peaceful and timid. Good community bottom dwellers, but not much for entertainment. Darren 2006-09-26
These loaches are very fun to watch! I have two in my twenty-gallon tank and they love to hide in my driftwood. They are very playful at night (they swim and squirm around like little snakes)and I highly recommend them. ashley 2006-02-14
Some of the coolest comments:
I have 8 cinnamon loaches in a 79 degree Fahrenheit, 6.5-7.0 pH 90 gallon aquarium filled with African (?) driftwood. I feed them shrimp pellets and sometimes algae disks. They are very active and tend to come out most of the day. Today when I was cleaning them, I was amazed to discover a very small loach, which was obviously an offspring. It was about an inch long and not more than a 5-6 hairs thick...at first I thought it was a piece of plastic, then I saw it shake its head like a loach and swim off! Alia 2007-06-21
this is a fun playful and curious fish. Do not expect to see it often though as it enjoys hiding. To combat its timidness be sure to buy six as this will reassure the loach. They are a very hardy fish in general. Tyler O'Sullivan 2006-04-28

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Author: Clarice Brough. CFS.