Gongota loach
Canthophrys gongota
Also known as Moose-face loach, Sand loach
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–81°F
- 21–27°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cobitidae
- Origin
- Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages, India and Bangladesh
Overview
The Gongota loach is a burrowing loach for the sandy bottom of a community tank. It is a step beyond the beginner fish.
Did you know
The Gongota loach is the only fish in the genus Canthophrys. Its moose-face profile is unlike anything else in the loach aisle.
Caring for the Gongota loach
Give Gongota loaches a tank of 42 gal (160 L) or more. They need a deep, fine sand floor to burrow and sift in. A Gongota loach spends much of its time buried, with just its eyes and snout showing.
Keep the water clean and well oxygenated, with gentle to moderate flow. Hold it at 70 to 81°F (21 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Feed sinking worms, granules and frozen foods once the lights dim. At feeding time, the loach erupts from the sand to eat.
The Gongota loach is peaceful and sociable, and it does best in a small group. Keep it with unfussy midwater company.
Good to know
The Gongota loach, Canthophrys gongota, belongs to the loach family Cobitidae. Its blunt, whiskered face is the reason for its nickname, the moose-face loach.
In the wild
The Gongota loach comes from the Ganges and Brahmaputra drainages of India and Bangladesh. It lives along sandy stretches of those river systems.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Gongota 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.
Assam giant danio
Devario assamensis
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Striped panchax
Aplocheilus lineatus
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
Blotched sisorid catfish
Glyptothorax macromaculatus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Exclamation barb
Dawkinsia exclamatio
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Gangetic loach
Botia rostrata
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Gongota loach need?
A Gongota loach needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Gongota loach need?
A Gongota loach is comfortable at 70–81°F (21–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Gongota loach eat?
A Gongota loach eats sinking worms, granules and frozen foods. Feed it once the lights dim, and it erupts from the sand to eat.
How big does a Gongota loach get?
An adult Gongota loach reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
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