Dojo Loach - Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Description
The Dojo Loach, also known as the Weather Loach or Pond Loach, is a unique and hardy freshwater fish native to East Asia. With its elongated, snake-like body and distinct appearance, the Dojo Loach is an interesting and active species often favored by aquarists for its playful nature and vibrant personality. These loaches are excellent scavengers, known for their ability to forage for food, and can even predict changes in weather patterns, hence their common name "Weather Loach." Dojo Loaches are peaceful, social creatures that enjoy the company of other fish, making them a great addition to a community tank.
Key Features
- Scientific Name: Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
- Common Name: Dojo Loach, Weather Loach, Pond Loach
- Size: 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm)
- Temperament: Peaceful and social, but may become territorial in smaller tanks or when kept in groups that are too small
- Lifespan: 10-15 years with proper care
- Diet: Omnivorous – they eat a wide range of foods, including live, frozen, and dry foods such as worms, shrimp, pellets, and plant matter.
- Appearance: The Dojo Loach has a slender, cylindrical body with smooth, pale, light brown or golden skin and dark markings along its body. They also have barbels around their mouth to help them forage for food.
- Tank Level: Bottom-dweller; they spend most of their time near the substrate, foraging for food.
Tank Requirements
- Tank Size: A minimum of 30 gallons is recommended for a group of Dojo Loaches to provide ample space for swimming and burrowing. Larger tanks are ideal for larger groups.
- Water Temperature: 68°F to 78°F (20°C to 25°C) – Dojo Loaches are quite tolerant of temperature changes and even thrive in cooler waters compared to other tropical fish.
- pH Range: 6.5 to 7.5
- Water Hardness: 5-15 dGH
- Substrate: Fine gravel or sand is preferred, as they enjoy burrowing. Avoid sharp substrates that can injure their sensitive bodies.
- Tank Setup: Dojo Loaches like to have plenty of hiding spots, especially if they feel threatened. Incorporating caves, rocks, driftwood, and soft plants in the tank is recommended. A gentle filter is ideal, as they prefer calm water movement.
Care Tips
- Water Quality: Dojo Loaches thrive in clean water with stable conditions. Regular water changes (20-30% weekly) and good filtration will help maintain water quality.
- Diet: These loaches are opportunistic feeders and enjoy a variety of food, including sinking pellets, live worms, and vegetables like blanched spinach or zucchini. Offer a varied diet to keep them healthy.
- Behavior: Dojo Loaches are very active and curious fish that will interact with their environment. They are known for their playful behavior and will often swim energetically, especially during feeding time.
- Tankmates: Dojo Loaches are peaceful fish and do well in community tanks. They are compatible with most non-aggressive species. Suitable tankmates include:
- Tetras (e.g., Neon Tetras, Rummy Nose Tetras)
- Corydoras Catfish
- Mollies
- Guppies
- Rainbowfish
- Other Loaches (such as the Clown Loach or Zebra Loach)
Compatibility
- Best Kept in Groups: Dojo Loaches are social fish and prefer being kept in small groups (3-6 individuals) to feel secure and engage in natural behaviors.
- Tankmates: Ideal tankmates include:
- Peaceful species like Tetras, Corydoras, and Gouramis
- Shrimp (such as Amano Shrimp or Cherry Shrimp)
- Snails
- Avoid:
- Aggressive or fin-nipping species that may harass the loaches
- Larger fish that might see the loach as food
Why Choose Dojo Loaches?
The Dojo Loach is a charming and peaceful species, known for its ability to adapt to cooler water temperatures and its entertaining antics. Their playful nature and ability to interact with their environment make them a fascinating addition to any aquarium. As a bottom-dweller and scavenger, they help maintain a clean tank by picking up leftover food. Their social behavior and long lifespan make them a great choice for aquarists looking for a hardy, low-maintenance, yet interesting fish that thrives in both community and species-specific tanks.
Size is about 3" - 5".
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Golden Dojo Loach
These things get to be larger than I've ever read in a magazine - mine have grown to 8-10" in about 3-5 months. But they are skinny so they don't take up that much room in the tank. Unless you want to annoy peaceful fish put them in a tank with other highly active fish - or ones that won't be bothered by it. Mine all LOVE the air sprinklers and will park themselves at the bottom then "launch" up into the air, swim down to the bottom and do it again. (all my loaches do this) they will politely take turns. I have a tank with 4 in it now and it is pure chaos. They love to dig up everything, and fly around the cage faster than any fish I've seen. Then they'll settle down for a nap for a few hours. I truly enjoy these fish more than any other fish I own but they do annoy other species. They'll break up a flock of tetras, run into a resting gourami, eat and dig up all your plants and just generally cause as much destruction as they can. They are completely peaceful fish - just playful.
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Fish
Fish came alive and well. Exactly what I ordered.
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Dojo’s rule!!! Fast shipment super active healthy fish!!!
I understood that like many businesses these guys were struggling & was prepared to wait 10-15 days to have my order completed. I was pleasantly surprised that it shipped within hours & by the next morning these guys were at my doorstep. Despite their journey they were incredibly alert & bursting with energy...it actually made it a bit difficult to even confirm I got the correct number of em let alone examine their condition. But they certainly looked great. I even saw one take some food within a few hours. They’re all hiding out now but Based on what. I’ve seen so far I’m sure once acclimated They’re gonna be out & about more.
Also just to mention when I was a lol kid I had a couple of these guys & they are some of hardiest, personable, & interesting animals around. Was bummed I couldn’t find any locally & was nervous about ordering online But now I’m glad I did -
Dojo
Easy peasy
They are extremely active
Great communication
Will do business with again
