All fish / Cobitidae

Pangio atactos

Pangio atactos

Also known as atactos kuhli loach, barred kuhli loach, burmese kuhli loach

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A small, eel-like loach from Myanmar with a pale yellowish body crossed by many thin, irregular dark bars that are less neat than in the common kuhli loach. It is kept for its quiet, peaceful nature and its habit of sifting through soft sand in groups, which makes it a good cleaner-up in planted community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Carnivore: sinking pellets, bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and other small live or frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (Ataran and Salween river drainages)

Breeding

It scatters eggs among plants or roots, but deliberate spawning in home aquariums is rarely reported. Most fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Needs soft sand and plenty of cover, and the tank must be tightly covered with intakes guarded because these loaches slip through tiny gaps. It is easily confused with other banded Pangio species and is often sold under the wrong name.