Striped Kuhli Loach (Pangio semicincta)
Description
The Striped Kuhli Loach (Pangio semicincta) is an active and fascinating species of freshwater fish that is renowned for its eel-like body and striking pattern of alternating dark and light stripes. These loaches are shy, bottom-dwelling fish that thrive in peaceful aquariums. Native to Southeast Asia, particularly in slow-moving streams and rivers, they are often sought after for their unique appearance and lively behavior. Due to their small size and peaceful temperament, Striped Kuhli Loaches make great additions to community tanks, especially for those looking for interesting and peaceful species.
Key Features
- Scientific Name: Pangio semicincta
- Common Name: Striped Kuhli Loach
- Size: Up to 3.5 inches (9 cm)
- Temperament: Peaceful and shy
- Lifespan: 5-7 years with proper care
- Diet: Omnivorous – eats a wide range of foods, including sinking pellets, live or frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp, and plant matter.
- Tank Level: Bottom-dweller, prefers to hide in substrate and decorations
Tank Requirements
- Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons for a small group (preferably 4 or more individuals)
- Water Temperature: 74°F to 82°F (23°C to 28°C)
- pH Range: 6.0 to 7.5
- Water Hardness: 5-12 dGH
- Substrate: Soft sand or fine gravel, as they like to burrow and dig in the substrate.
- Tank Setup: A well-planted tank with lots of hiding spaces, such as caves, driftwood, and rocks. Kuhli Loaches are more active when they have places to retreat to, and dense plant cover helps replicate their natural environment.
Care Tips
- Striped Kuhli Loaches are nocturnal, so they are most active during the night or in low light conditions.
- These loaches are very shy and will often spend time hiding under rocks, in caves, or within plants during the day.
- They are social fish, so it’s best to keep them in groups of at least 4 to encourage natural behaviors and reduce stress.
- Ensure the tank has secure lids, as Kuhli Loaches are known to be escape artists.
- Kuhli Loaches are sensitive to poor water quality, so regular water changes and good filtration are essential.
Compatibility
The Striped Kuhli Loach is peaceful and does well in a community tank with other small, non-aggressive species, such as:
- Peaceful tetras (e.g., Neon Tetras, Ember Tetras)
- Corydoras Catfish
- Peaceful Gouramis
- Small livebearers (e.g., Guppies, Endler’s Livebearers)
- Shrimp (e.g., Amano Shrimp, Cherry Shrimp)
Why Choose Striped Kuhli Loaches?
The Striped Kuhli Loach is a captivating fish that adds an interesting dynamic to your tank with its unique eel-like shape and beautiful striped coloration. Perfect for peaceful community aquariums, these loaches offer entertainment and diversity with their bottom-dwelling habits and playful, nocturnal behavior. They are especially well-suited to aquarists with planted tanks or those looking for a species that doesn’t require high maintenance.
*Sold in bundles of 5-10 fish*
**Individually sold fish only available in SD storefront**
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Khuli Losch
They arrived alive and healthy, their getting use to their new home.
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Striped Kuhli Loach
No DOA, some had discoloration of their side as if rubbing against something. Looking good after 48 hours, hiding in leaf litter but mobile; I built my tank with these guys in mind.
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Fish
Gorgeous fish arrived safe and ahead of estimate once enroute. Great customer service. Would shop here again.
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Khuli Loaches
Was so excited to order these cool little Khuli loaches. However, when I received bag, only one of them was dead in the bag but the others are perfectly fine. Customer Service is a tad bit slow, but otherwise nice. They hide a lot and I hope they are still doing well and alive. Only one of them really comes out. I ordered the package of 5. They are so tiny, I might think about getting some more:) probably the only website I would trust to order fish from.
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Kuhli loaches
Ordered 6 all arrived in perfect health. Some bigger than the description said they would be. The differences in their color and size just makes it so much fun to watch them play.
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alive and healthy
Again very happy with my order
Thanks again -
Kuhli Loach
Arrived next day, heat packs were still warm, all fish are alive and happy. Quality fish!! Thank you!
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Good Mostly
I ordered 9 but sadly the biggesn't one of the group was DOA. I thought it was playing dead so I opened the bag just to make sure and it was. The rest seem to be doing fine though so that's good.
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Kuhli Loach
The Kuhli Loach is found in South-East Asia, in Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. They inhabit the shallow slow-moving waters of forest streams; a similar environment to old peat swamps with black waters. These habitats are often shaded from direct sunlight by the streams dense vegetation and the tree canopy above the water
Highly Recommended.
