Explore all loaches in our database. Browse detailed care guides, compatibility information, and species data to find the perfect fish for your aquarium.
Chromobotia macracanthus
A highly popular but large-growing shoaling fish famous for eating nuisance snails. Known for their striking orange and black bands, they are highly social and must be kept in groups. They have no standard scales, making them sensitive to medications and prone to Ich, requiring pristine, warm water. They are known for their quirky behavior of sleeping on their sides or backs.
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
A large, highly active, and deeply social cold-water loach. Famous for their erratic swimming patterns in response to barometric pressure changes (hence 'Weather Loach'). They are entirely unsuited for tropical temperatures and require fine sand to fulfill their natural burrowing behaviors.
Ambastaia sidthimunki
An incredibly active, highly social, and peaceful nano loach. Known for its distinct chain-like pattern, this species is an excellent alternative to Clown Loaches for smaller aquariums. They are fantastic snail hunters. They must be kept in groups of at least 6 to feel secure and display their entertaining, hyperactive shoaling behavior.
Pangio kuhlii
A remarkably peaceful, eel-like bottom dweller native to the slow-moving forest streams of Southeast Asia. Famous for its orange and dark brown banding, the Kuhli Loach is an excellent scavenger. They are notoriously shy and nocturnal, requiring dense planting, leaf litter, and most importantly, a soft sand substrate to burrow in without damaging their delicate barbels. They must be kept in groups to feel secure and prevent severe stress.
Sewellia lineolata
A fascinating, highly specialized loach adapted to fast-flowing, oxygen-rich rapids. They have a flattened, ray-like body allowing them to cling to smooth rocks where they graze on algae and biofilm (aufwuchs). They strictly require strong water flow, high dissolved oxygen, and cooler temperatures. Males frequently engage in visually striking but harmless territorial 'battles' over prime feeding rocks.
Botia almorhae
A popular, energetic, and boisterous bottom dweller native to the slow-moving and still waters of the Ganges basin (India/Pakistan). Named 'Yoyo' because the dark reticulated patterns on juveniles often resemble the letters Y-O-Y-O. As they mature, the pattern becomes a complex mosaic. They are excellent snail eaters but can be semi-aggressive/boisterous, making them unsuitable for shy or long-finned tank mates.
Botia striata
A highly active, beautifully striped bottom dweller endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Unlike some larger botiid loaches, the Zebra Loach is peaceful and stays relatively small, making it an excellent community fish. They are highly social, strict schooling fish that establish complex pecking orders. They are also famous for being voracious consumers of pest snails.
