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Myer's LoachGiant Kuhli Loach, Myer's Slimy Loach, Albino Myer's LoachFamily: Cobitidae Pangio myersiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken ChildsLatest Reader Comment - See More The Myers Loach was a great addition to our tank. I am thinking about getting another on to keep this one company (that way we may see him more!). Very neat... (more) Snuffy The Myer's Loach is one of the most handsome of the Pangio group of Kuhli loaches!Myers Loach Contents The Myer's Loach Pangio myersi is one of the best looking kuhli loaches in the Pangio genus. Its background color is an orangish to salmon red, being paler underneath. It has 10 to 14 broad black or dark brown bands, some of which may completely encircle the body. This is a delightful little loach and a school of these active fellows will liven up any peaceful community aquarium. The Myer's Loach is very similar to the other loaches in the Pangio genus. As a group they are often called 'kuhli' loaches. The Myer's Loach has the unique distinction of being very slimy. Because they have a slimier skin than the other loaches, one of its common names is the Myer's Slimy Loach. It is also known as the Giant Kuhli Loach and there is an albino variety as well, called the Albino Myer's Loach, which can have either red eyes or black eyes. It has been debated whether this is its own species Pangio myersi or a subspecies of the Kuhli Loach Pangio kuhlii, thus being Pangio kuhli myersi, so both designations are found. The worm-like Myer's Loach is a great little helper in keeping the aquarium clean of foods left uneaten by other fishes. Scavenging for tidbits it wiggles in and about the ornaments and plants, getting into nooks and crannies where other fish just can't fit. Because it is nocturnal and doesn't care for bright lights, the Myer's Loach does most of its work at night. They are hardy little fish with a peaceful disposition, making them well suited to a community aquarium. LIke many of their genus, the Giant Kuhli Loaches are loners rather than schooling fishes, but they are more comfortable if they have companions. If kept singly they will be unlikely to venture out of hiding and so will seldom be seen though they can live for several years. For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see: |
Care and feeding: Since they are omnivorous, the Myer's Loach or Myer's Slimy 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 Myer's Loach Pangio myersi (previously Acanthophthalmus myersi) is found in Asia; the Mekong Basin and southeast Thailand. It is also found under the designation Pangio kuhli myersi as it has been debated whether it is its own species or a subspecies of the Kuhli Loach Pangio kuhlii.
It is also known as the Giant Kuhli Loach and due to its very slimy skin, is called Myer's Slimy Loach. There is also an albino variety is called the Albino Myer's Loach. These kuhli loaches live in sandy areas of rivers and mountain streams.
The Myer's Loach has an orangish to salmon red background color, being paler underneath. There are 10 to 14 broad black or dark brown bands, some can be just a partial band and while others may completely encircle the body. The tail fin can be either entirely black or have a large black blotch on it. They are also known Myer's Slimy Loach because they have a slimier skin than the other loaches.
Like other Kuhli loaches, the Myer's Loach has an elongated worm-like body and 3 pairs of whisker-like barbels. There are no scales on the head of Pangio Kuhli loaches. Their eyes are covered by a transparent skin and there is a short spine in front of them, thus the designation of all the Cobitidae family of being "thorny-eyes". The dorsal fin is set very far back, and the anal fin is set at the end of the base of the dorsal fin.
Albino Myer's Loach
The Myer's Loach shown to the right is an albino color form of this loach. The Albino Myer's Loach has red eyes. A similarly colored Myer's Loach with black eyes is a leucistic form that would be described as a hypo-melanistic color form.
This a bred color form, and it is not certain whether the Albino Myer's Loach occurs naturally in the wild. But these would be highly visible animals, so beacons for predatation.
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 Myer's Loach will seldom be seen.
Sexual Differences: Unknown, though a female with eggs will be plumper.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom: These fish are mostly bottom dwellers.
Acceptable Water Conditions: Hardness: to 5° dH
Ph: 5.5 - 6.5
Temp: 73-86° F (24-30° C), they can tolerate low 80°s for a short period.
Breeding/Reproduction: Not much is known about the breeding habits of the Myer's Loach, though they have been bred successfully in the aquarium and are reported to have been regularly spawned in Russia using hormones as a spawning agent. They scatter adhesive eggs underneath floating plants where the eggs then attach to the stems and roots. The eggs have been described by Herbert Axelrod as a type of bubble nest, with each egg enclosed in a bubble.
Availability: The Myer's Loach or Myer's Slimy Loach is often available.
- Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
- Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 1, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1991
- Mark in Vancouver, Pangio myersi, Loaches Online, 2009
- Pangio myersi (Harry, 1949), Fishbase.org
- Bratz Walker, Sharks and Loaches, T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1974
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