All fish / Cobitidae

Borneo Kuhli Loach

Pangio borneensis

Also known as pangio agma, black kuhli loach, dark kuhli loach, borneo eel loach, kuhli loach, khuli loach, coolie loach, パンギオ・ボルネエンシス, 婆罗洲苦力泥鳅

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A slender, eel-like loach with a plain dark brown to greyish body, lacking the banding of the common kuhli loach. It is kept for its peaceful nature and the way groups burrow and weave through sand, leaf litter and roots in soft-water community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

5 to 7

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: 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

Borneo (Sarawak and Kalimantan), Malaysia and Indonesia

Breeding

Rarely bred on purpose in aquaria. Like other Pangio it is thought to scatter eggs among fine plants or roots, and most fish in the trade are wild-caught.

Good to know

Often confused with Pangio oblonga and other plain dark Pangio, so trade names are unreliable. Use a soft sand substrate and cover all gaps and filter intakes, as these loaches squeeze into tiny openings.