Guntea loach
Lepidocephalichthys guntea
Also known as Peppered loach, Guntea, Cobitis guntea, Panther Loach
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–82°F
- 18–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.8
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cobitidae
- Origin
- Widespread across Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand, in still and flowing waters from streams to ponds and ditches.
Overview
The Guntea loach is a hardy, adaptable bottom fish for a community tank. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The Guntea loach can breathe air through its gut, gulping at the surface when needed. That lets it survive in stagnant, oxygen-poor water.
Caring for the Guntea loach
Keep a group of Guntea loaches in a tank of 24 gal (90 L) or more. Give them a soft sand bed to dig in, with some rooted plants and cover. Anchor the plants firmly, since they will dig.
Keep the water at 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.8. The Guntea loach is forgiving about water chemistry, and almost any clean tap water suits it. It handles a wide range of temperatures, so it is one of the easier loaches for an unheated or variable room.
It is an omnivore that sifts sand for worms, insect larvae and detritus. It takes sinking pellets and frozen foods readily.
The Guntea loach is peaceful with tank mates too big to swallow, and it works well in community tanks. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The Guntea loach belongs to the family Cobitidae and was first described as Cobitis guntea in 1822. It is one of the most commonly caught loaches across the Indian subcontinent.
In the wild
The Guntea loach is widespread across Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. It copes with everything from clear streams to muddy, low-oxygen ponds and ditches. In the wild, it tolerates temperatures from about 16 to 30°C.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Guntea 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.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Congo tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Red lizard whiptail
Rineloricaria lanceolata
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Rosy barb
Pethia conchonius
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)
Spotfin hatchetfish
Thoracocharax stellatus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Ping's hillstream loach
Beaufortia pingi
Freshwater3.5 in (8.9 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Guntea loach need?
A Guntea loach needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Guntea loach need?
A Guntea loach is comfortable at 64–82°F (18–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.8.
What does a Guntea loach eat?
A Guntea loach is an omnivore. It sifts the sand for worms, insect larvae and detritus, and readily takes sinking pellets and frozen foods.
How big does a Guntea loach get?
An adult Guntea loach reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
Related species
3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Common spiny loach
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis
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2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Forktail spiny loach
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