Cinnamon loach
Pangio pangia
Also known as Pangia loach, Cinnamon kuhli loach, Cobitis pangia
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cobitidae
- Origin
- Native to the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins and parts of Southeast Asia, in slow, soft, often tannin-stained streams and pools over leaf litter.
Overview
The cinnamon loach is a small kuhli-type loach that lives on the bottom of a soft-water tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.
Did you know
The cinnamon loach's plain body takes on a warm reddish glow in a blackwater tank with tannin-stained water and dim light. That glow gives the fish its name.
Caring for the cinnamon loach
Give cinnamon loaches a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more. Keep it dimly lit, with soft sand, leaf litter and driftwood. They are shy at first and burrow, so cover and a quiet setup help bring them out.
Keep the water soft and warm, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Hold the temperature steady, since the cinnamon loach dislikes swings toward either extreme.
It roots through the sand and leaf litter for small invertebrates. Feed sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp.
Keep at least five together. The cinnamon loach is peaceful and retiring, and it suits a soft-water community with small rasboras, tetras and other gentle fish.
Good to know
The cinnamon loach is a true loach in the family Cobitidae, first described as Cobitis pangia in 1822. Its uniform, warm brown color has none of the bands of the common kuhli. That sets it apart from its boldly striped Pangio relatives.
In the wild
The cinnamon loach is native to the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins and parts of Southeast Asia. It lives in slow streams and pools of soft, acidic blackwater, often stained with tannins and floored with leaf litter.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The cinnamon loach is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Rex halfbeak
Nomorhamphus rex
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Humpbacked limia
Limia nigrofasciata
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Blue neon dwarf goby
Stiphodon atropurpureus
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a cinnamon loach need?
A cinnamon loach needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a cinnamon loach need?
A cinnamon loach is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
What does a cinnamon loach eat?
A cinnamon loach roots through sand and leaf litter for small invertebrates. Feed it sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp.
How big does a cinnamon loach get?
An adult cinnamon loach reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Moray kuhli loach
Pangio muraeniformis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Peppered kuhli loach
Pangio piperata
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.5 in (6.3 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Borneo kuhli loach
Pangio borneensis
2.5 in (6.3 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)Wedge-striped kuhli loach
Pangio cuneovirgata
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)15 gal (55 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Java loach
Pangio oblonga
3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)15 gal (55 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Shelford's kuhli loach
Pangio shelfordii
3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)