Loaches

Loaches are social bottom dwellers with strong personalities, from noodle-shaped kuhlis to flow-loving hillstream species. Most want company, smooth substrate and places to hide. Profiles list group size, tank size and the conditions each species needs.

34 species

• 

  Banded tiger loach

  Syncrossus helodes

  11.8 in (30 cm)75 gal (285 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)

• 

  Bengal loach

  Botia dario

  5.1 in (13 cm)37 gal (140 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
• Black-lined loach

  Ambastaia nigrolineata

  3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Borneo hillstream loach

  Gastromyzon ctenocephalus

  1.6 in (4 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Burmese border loach

  Botia histrionica

  5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Butterfly Loach

  Beaufortia kweichowensis

  3 in (7.5 cm)25 gal (95 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)

• 

  Chameleon loach

  Syncrossus beauforti

  9.8 in (25 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
• Chinese butterfly loach

  Pseudogastromyzon cheni

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)

• 

  Cinnamon loach

  Pangio pangia

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Clown loach

  Chromobotia macracanthus

  11.8 in (30 cm)75 gal (285 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)

• 

  Dwarf botia

  Ambastaia sidthimunki

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
• Eel kuhli loach

  Pangio anguillaris

  4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
• Gangetic loach

  Botia rostrata

  4.7 in (12 cm)42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
• Giant kuhli loach

  Pangio myersi

  3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Green tiger loach

  Syncrossus hymenophysa

  8.3 in (21 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)

• 

  Guntea loach

  Lepidocephalichthys guntea

  4.7 in (12 cm)24 gal (90 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)

• 

  Half-banded kuhli loach

  Pangio semicincta

  3.9 in (10 cm)28 gal (105 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

• 

  Horseface loach

  Acantopsis dialuzona

  7.9 in (20 cm)55 gal (210 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)

• 

  Java loach

  Pangio oblonga

  3.1 in (8 cm)25 gal (95 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

• 

  Kuhli loach

  Pangio kuhlii

  3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Leconte's loach

  Yasuhikotakia lecontei

  5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Panda loach

  Yaoshania pachychilus

  2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)

• 

  Polka-Dot Loach

  Botia kubotai

  5.9 in (15 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Red hillstream loach

  Beaufortia leveretti

  3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)

• 

  Redfin tiger loach

  Syncrossus berdmorei

  9.4 in (24 cm)50 gal (190 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)

• 

  Redtail loach

  Yasuhikotakia modesta

  9.8 in (25 cm)75 gal (285 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Skunk loach

  Yasuhikotakia morleti

  3.3 in (8.5 cm)37 gal (140 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Spined loach

  Cobitis taenia

  4.3 in (11 cm)32 gal (120 L)39–68°F (4–20°C)
• Spotted hillstream loach

  Gastromyzon punctulatus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Sun loach

  Yasuhikotakia eos

  4.3 in (11 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Tiger hillstream loach

  Sewellia lineolata

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)25 gal (95 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Weather Loach

  Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

  11 in (28 cm)55 gal (210 L)50–73°F (10–23°C)

• 

  Yoyo loach

  Botia almorhae

  6.3 in (16 cm)42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)

• 

  Zebra loach

  Botia striata

  3.5 in (9 cm)37 gal (140 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)