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Java Loach
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| Geographic Distribution Pangio oblonga |
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| Point data provided by FishBase.org |
Since they are omnivorous, the Java Loach or Black Kuhli Loach will generally eat all kinds of small live and frozen foods and meat based foods are relished the most. They also like sinking pelleted and tablet foods, flakes, and a bit of vegetable foods such as algae wafers. To keep a good balance give them a high quality prepared food everyday. Feed tubifex worms, brine shrimp (either live or frozen), mosquito larvae, and daphnia as a treat.
This fish will do well in a smaller aquarium (ideally 20 gallons or so) with lots of plants and places for retreat, such as rocks, caves, and roots. Also use subdued lighting. They do best in soft, slightly acidic water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. The substrate needs to be a fine gravel or sand that does not have sharp edges and they will also enjoy a bit of organic mulm or peat moss spread over the substrate.
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.
Comments from people who have kept this fish:
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. :)
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.
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.
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!
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.
Author: Clarice Brough. CFS.
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