Scientific Name: Pangio shelfordi

Family: Cobitidae

Community: Good inoffensive community resident

Origin:  From the southern part of the Malayan peninsula to Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Temperature: 72-80 F Swimming Range: Bottom Adult Length: 6-8 inches Ph: Slightly acidic

Description: The Kuhli Loach has an eel shaped, elongated body that is very slightly compressed at the sides. The fins of this fish are all small. The dorsal fin starts just after half way down the back and the anal fin is well behind this. The eyes are covered with a transparent skin and have a movable spine beneath them, there are four pairs of barbells and no lateral line is visible. T he entire body of the fish is covered with fifteen to twenty dark brow n to black vertical bars, the gaps between them range from a salmon pink in some species to a rich yellow in others. The underside is light.

Feeding Habits
These fish will eat virtually anything that sinks. Any of the commercial flake or sinking pellet foods are appreciated. Supplement their diets with small live foods, such as bloodworms, Tubifex and other small worms, mosquito larvae, and Daphnia.

Compatibility
Loaches are extremely peaceful, gregarious fish that make ideal inhabitants of a Tropical Community Aquarium. They do best when kept in small groups (i.e., three to six individuals) and have been known to pile together on top of one another in a suitable shelter. Keeping them in small groups and providing sufficient shelters will help to bring them out in the open. Rarely are they seen, you may be forgiven if you forget they are actually in your tank at all!

Habitat
Loaches do best in tanks that have lots of hiding places in the form of roots, driftwood and flowerpots as caves, and that are densely planted with hardy plants, such as Vallisaneria and Java fern. Floating plants are excellent for providing the subdued lighting they prefer.

Breeding
Although there have been occasional reports of spawning in the home aquarium, these have been mostly accidental.    Rare occurrence.  Eggs are bright green and are laid on floating plants.