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Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
A shy, eel-striped noodle of a fish that hides all day and parties all night.
3–4 in10+ years
Habitat
Enclosure
20 gal minimum · groups of 5+
Temperature
73–82°F
Humidity / Water
Freshwater · pH 6.0–6.5, soft
Heating & lighting
Gentle heater and a tight lid — they escape through any gap. Fine sand substrate, caves, and leaf litter; dim lighting brings them out.
Diet
Feed these
- Sinking pellets
- Frozen bloodworms
- Bottom wafers
Never feed
- Sharp gravel (delicate skin)
- Bright bare tanks with nowhere to hide
- Strong currents
Feed sinking foods after lights out. Groups of five or more come out together; lone kuhlis vanish forever.
Cohabitation
Can live with
Neon tetras Corydoras catfish Guppies Harlequin rasboras Other kuhli loaches — groups of 5+
Never house with
Oscar and large cichlids — eaten Boisterous diggers that wreck their burrows
Nocturnal and shy — perfectly peaceful with everything, but you'll need a moon light to see them.
