All fish / Cobitidae

Doria's Loach

Pangio doriae

Also known as doria's kuhli loach, doria loach, kuhli loach, coolie loach, pangio doriae loach, パンギオ・ドリアエ, 多里亚潘鳅

A slender, eel-like loach with a pale yellowish to brown body crossed by dark saddles or bands, closely resembling the common kuhli loach. It comes from slow, soft, acidic forest streams and peat swamps, and is kept for its quirky burrowing behaviour and peaceful nature in planted, soft-water community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °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 small live foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Borneo (Sarawak and Kalimantan) and Sumatra, Indonesia/Malaysia

Breeding

It is an egg scatterer that spawns among fine plants or roots, but captive breeding is rarely reported and most fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Needs soft sand and plenty of cover as it burrows and hides, and it will slip through tiny gaps or into filter intakes, so cover the tank and guard inlets. Often confused with other banded Pangio species and sold simply as kuhli loach.