Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
Also known as Coolie Loach, Leopard Loach
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
An eel-like, striped loach that loves burrowing through soft sand and piling into caves with its friends. It is completely peaceful, though it mostly comes out at dusk. Keep a group, use soft sand and plenty of hiding spots, and you will see far more of them.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 14 US gal
- Footprint
- 24 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 70–79 °F
- pH
- 3.5–7
- Hardness
- 0–8 dGH
- Swim zone
- Bottom
- Min group
- 6 or more
- Lifespan
- 3–10 years
Kuhli Loach tank mates and swim zone
Bottom
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon innesi
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Trigonostigma espei
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Kuhli Loach is much larger than Ember Tetra and may frighten or even eat it.
Boraras brigittae
Kuhli Loach is much larger than Chili Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Danio margaritatus
Kuhli Loach is much larger than Celestial Pearl Danio and may frighten or even eat it.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Common tank-mate questions
Kuhli Loach feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed sinking pellets or wafers after the lights go out.
- Add frozen bloodworm and daphnia, which it hunts in the substrate.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Adult females are heavier in the body and a little larger. Males have a thicker, larger first ray on the pectoral fin.
Kuhli Loach care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 6 fish so they feel secure.
- Use soft sand. It burrows constantly, and sharp gravel can injure it.
- Cover the filter intake. Their slim bodies can slip into gaps and get trapped.
- Use a tight lid, because loaches are skilled at escaping through small gaps.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons.
Kuhli Loach tank setup
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
TankAt least 14 US gal (54 L), 60 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Kuhli Loach. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 29 Gallon US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 20-Gallon Fish Tank: 20 Long or 29?). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Kuhli Loach, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Kuhli Loach's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterHang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
Seachem Tidal 55 Power Filter US
Marineland Penguin PRO 175 Power Filter US
Eheim LiBERTY 130 Hang-on Filter Spain
Seachem Tidal 35 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 70–79 °F (21–26 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29. Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 100 W US
Aqueon Submersible Glass Heater 100 W US
Eheim Thermocontrol e 100 Heater Spain
Tetra HT 100 Electronic Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 20 to 29-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateNeeds soft sand because it digs and buries itself; coarser gravel can stress or injure it.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorDriftwood that forms shady spots, dried leaf litter and nooks to rest in.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Kuhli Loach
We have not found a store that sells Kuhli Loach under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Kuhli Loach FAQ
What size tank do Kuhli Loaches need?
Our sourced minimum is 14 US gallons (54 liters), with a footprint of 60 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Kuhli Loaches should I keep?
Keep at least 6 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Kuhli Loaches?
Good matches on our list include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra and Black Neon Tetra. Avoid Endler's Livebearer and Platy.
How long do Kuhli Loaches live?
Care guides report about 3–10 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Why do I never see my kuhli loaches?
They are shy and most active in dim light. A larger group and plenty of cover makes them much bolder, and they often show up at feeding time.
Kuhli Loach facts and sources
- Family
- Cobitidae
- Native to
- Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo
- Adult size
- 3.9 in (10 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Micro-Predator
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Fine Sand Required
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Difficult in Home Tanks
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.