
Kuhli loach
Pangio kuhlii
It wriggles eel-like into the sand and comes out mostly at night.
The Kuhli loach (Pangio kuhlii) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae. It lives on the bottom. Adults grow to about 9 cm; the largest on record measured 12 cm (total length). In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 60 cm long and water at 24–29 °C.
- Size
- 9 cm
- Smallest tank
- 60 cm
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
- Care
- Moderate
In the aquarium
Temperature24–29 °C
pH5.5–7.0
Hardness1–10 °dGH
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Calm
- Water layer
- Bottom
- Group
- Happiest in a group of 6 or more
- Plants
- Plant safe
These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.
Which tank it fits
- Nano60 cm · 65 litres16 of them
- Standard90 cm · 180 litres45 of them
- Wide120 cm · 300 litres75 of them
- Living room180 cm · 650 litres162 of them
- Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres300 of them
- Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres360 of them
Who it lives with
Gets along67 species
- Scissortail rasbora
- Congo tetra
- Molly
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Dwarf gourami
- Sailfin molly
- Bronze corydoras
- Diamond tetra
- Silver hatchetfish
- Swordtail
- Dwarf chain loach
- Emperor tetra
- Cherry barb
- Bristlenose pleco
- Cardinal tetra
- Lemon tetra
- Penguin tetra
- Harlequin rasbora
- Black neon tetra
- Serpae tetra
- Glowlight tetra
- Guppy
- Green neon tetra
- Lambchop rasbora
Caution19 species
Not together13 species
Water temperatures do not overlap
In the wild
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Climate zone
- Tropical
- Habitat
- On the bottom
- Largest on record
- 12 cmtotal length
- Aquarium trade
- Traded commercially
Conservation status
Classification
- OrderCypriniformes
- FamilyCobitidae
- GenusPangio
- SpeciesPangio kuhlii
- Described byValenciennes, 1846
In other languages
- Spanish
- Botia de Kuhl
- Russian
- Акантофтальмус Кюля
- Japanese
- クーリーローチ
- Chinese
- 庫勒潘鰍
Quick answers
- Kuhli loach size: how big does it get?
- Adults reach about 9 cm. The largest on record measured 12 cm (total length). The largest of the 5 Pangio species on LumaReef (Pangio cuneovirgata is the smallest, 6 cm).
- Kuhli loach tank size: what is the minimum?
- A tank at least 60 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Nano tank or larger.
- Kuhli loach water parameters: what does it need?
- Temperature 24–29 °C, pH 5.5–7.0, hardness 1–10 °dGH. Warmer than most Pangio on LumaReef (21–26 °C).
- Kuhli loach tank mates: what can it live with?
- It gets along with 67 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Scissortail rasbora, Congo tetra, and Molly.
- Kuhli loach: alone or in a group?
- Keep at least 6 together.
- Kuhli loach and plants: is it plant safe?
- Yes, it leaves plants alone.
Similar species
Sources
Kuhli loach: compiled from these references.









