🐍 Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii)

The Kuhli Loach is one of the most unique and fascinating bottom-dwelling fish in the hobby. With their eel-like bodies and striped pattern, these shy nocturnal loaches slither through substrate and squeeze into the tiniest spaces. They're excellent scavengers and add interesting behavior to any peaceful community tank.

📋 Quick Facts

⚠️ Important Considerations

• Must be kept in groups - Minimum 6
• Need soft substrate - Sand is essential
• Escape artists - Can climb, seal all gaps
• Shy and nocturnal - May hide during day
• Scaleless fish - Sensitive to medications

🏠 Tank Requirements

• Tank Size: 20 gallons for group of 6
• Substrate: Fine sand required (they burrow)
• Hiding spots: Lots of caves, driftwood, plants
• Plants: Appreciate dense plantings
• Seal gaps: Can escape through tiny openings

Water Parameters

🍽️ Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavengers that feed at night.

• Sinking pellets/wafers - Staple
• Frozen bloodworms - Favorite
• Frozen brine shrimp
• Sinking carnivore pellets
• Live blackworms - Excellent treat

Feed at night when lights are off. Ensure food reaches the bottom.

🐟 Compatibility

Good Tankmates

• Tetras
• Rasboras
• Corydoras
• Bettas (usually peaceful together)
• Dwarf Gouramis
• Peaceful barbs
• Shrimp (may eat shrimplets)

Avoid

• Aggressive bottom dwellers
• Large cichlids
• Predatory fish
• Rough substrate users

🎭 Behavior

• Burrowing - Will disappear into sand
• Nocturnal - Most active at night
• Social - Love piling on each other
• Shy initially - Become bolder over time
• Glass surfing - Sometimes swim up glass at night

🏥 Health Notes

• Scaleless - Very sensitive to medications
• Half-dose medications - Or use loach-safe treatments
• No copper - Toxic to scaleless fish
• No salt - Don't tolerate aquarium salt well

💡 Tips for Success

• Keep in groups of 6 or more
• Sand substrate is non-negotiable
• Seal all escape routes
• Provide lots of hiding spots
• Feed after lights out
• Be patient - they hide at first but become bolder

📚 Summary

Kuhli Loaches are fascinating, snake-like fish that add unique behavior to community tanks. Keep them in groups on sand substrate with plenty of hiding spots, and these long-lived loaches will reward you with interesting nocturnal activity and excellent scavenging for years to come.