Weather Loach

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Far East (China, Japan, Korea, Siberia). Survives in muddy swamps, asphyxiated rice paddies, slow ponds, and turbid canals, enduring almost any environmental abuse.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Weather Loach / Dojo Loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus). Eel-like Loach. Very elongated sausage-like body, covered with a thick layer of slimy mucus, mouth surrounded by 10 thick sensory barbels to rummage in the mud.

Social Behavior: Curious and intrusive. Spends its time rummaging through every crevice. Reacts frantically to barometric changes (hence the name Weather Loach): before thunderstorms it will swim wildly up and down the glass in a hyperactive manner.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Swamp camouflage: light brown thickly speckled with dark/olive spots all over the body to blend in with the sand and dead leaves. There is a bred "Gold" form. Males have longer and thicker pectoral fins, females are massive.

Aquarium Setup: Soft substrate is mandatory. Deep sand (not gravel) to allow it to bury itself, leaving only its eyes out. Impregnable lid: it is an escape specialist (even crawling out of the tank). Tank of at least 120 cm (48 inches) due to its size.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous trash can. Will eat whatever leftovers fall to the bottom, snails (Planorbis), chopped earthworms and wafers for bottom feeders. The mouth sucks and filters expelling the sand from the gills.

Water Quality: Cold/temperate water fish. Can spend the winter under the ice in ponds. Should never be kept stably above 24-25°C (75-77°F) indoors so as not to drastically reduce its life expectancy (10 years).

Compatibility and Tankmates: Unsuitable for the classic tropical. Must be paired with hardy and cool fish like Goldfish, White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes), Danios or in isolated large tanks. Not aggressive, but its nocturnal hyperactivity and size frighten delicate fish.

Aquarium Reproduction: Very rare in the absence of hormonal or rigid seasonal stimuli (winter cold followed by warm swings and spring rainfall). They release thousands of eggs in open waters or on plants.

Risks and Diseases: Breathless. If the water becomes polluted or anoxic (oxygen-deprived), this loach can survive by swallowing air at the surface and absorbing oxygen through the blood vessels of the intestinal tract.