Spined loach
Cobitis taenia
A small nocturnal European loach with fascinating behavior: it spends most of the day buried in sand with only its eyes and head visible, then becomes active at dusk. Equipped with erectile spines under its eyes (hence the name), it is native to temperate streams throughout Europe. The main challenge in aquarium is temperature: it thrives between 14 and 18 °C and needs a cold winter for long-term health — incompatible with standard tropical temperatures. Fine sandy substrate mandatory: it buries itself and sifts sand to feed. Bio-indicator of water quality: if it is active, the water is good.
Température de l’eau
10 - 22 °C
Valeur du pH
7 - 8
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
12 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 80 L
Groupe minimal
>= 6
GH
8 - 15 dGH
KH
4 - 7 dKH
TDS
160 - 295 ppm
Conductivité
250 - 461 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widespread Eurasian species (from Great Britain and Italy to the Amur basin in Russia). Populates the sandy bottoms of slow-flowing rivers, cold streams and mountain lakes.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Spined Loach (Cobitis taenia). Elongated cobitid (up to 12 cm / 4.7 inches). Possesses six tiny barbels and a very small erectile "spine" under the eye that springs out to defend against predators.
Social Behavior: Gregarious (in nature lives in aggregations) and strictly nocturnal. By day it remains motionless buried in the sand or mud (leaving only its eyes emerging), vigorously sifting the bottom at night.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Perfectly camouflaged: sand-colored back, covered with regular rows of brown dots and spots ("taenia" = ribbon/band). Males smaller and more tapered than adult (swollen) females.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Temperate (non-tropical) tank of at least 100 cm (40 inches). MANDATORY REQUIREMENT: thick and uninterrupted layer of very fine sand. In case of coarse gravel it will not be able to bury itself nor filter and will suffer serious injuries to the snout.
Diet and Feeding: Macrobenthic carnivore. Filters the sand retaining worms and insect larvae and expelling the grains from the gills. In the aquarium it is mandatory to provide bloodworms, tubifex and sinking granular feed at night.
Water Quality: Strictly cold water. Survives between 10 and 22°C (50-71°F, even under ice in winter). The hot summers of 28°C (82°F) typical of tropical aquariums are intolerable and reduce oxygen, killing it by asphyxiation.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Unbelievably peaceful. Insert it only in "Coldwater" setups with cold water fish such as slow ornamental Goldfish (Orandas, if they don't risk swallowing them), White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes) or Rhodeus.
Aquarium Breeding: Very difficult at home, requires strict observance of cold winter seasons, followed by a thermal rise to 16-18°C (60-64°F). The sticky eggs are deposited among tangles of algae or roots. Fry predated by parents.
Risks and Diseases: Often imported and wrongly sold as a "scavenger" fish for warm aquariums: in these tropical tanks it collapses due to lack of oxygen. Legally protected and endangered species in many European countries due to the destruction of gravel bottoms.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Widespread Eurasian species (from Great Britain and Italy to the Amur basin in Russia). Populates the sandy bottoms of slow-flowing rivers, cold streams and mountain lakes.
Origine
Amérique du NordEurope, Méditerranée et Asie occidentaleAsie de l'Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- The Spined Loach is a peaceful, timid, and primarily nocturnal bottom-dweller. They spend the daytime buried in the sand with only their eyes exposed, emerging at dusk to forage. They are social fish that thrive when kept in groups of six or more individuals.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are omnivorous benthic feeders that filter food particles from sand and silt. In the aquarium, they should be fed sinking pellets, wafers, and a variety of small frozen foods like daphnia, artemia, and bloodworms. Providing a fine sand substrate is critical, as they sift sand through their gills to extract food.
- Espérance de vie
- 3-5 years
- Taille adulte
- 12 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Group
- There is no strict requirement for a specific sex ratio when keeping the spined loach in a home aquarium. They are a gregarious species that prefers to be kept in groups of at least five or more individuals to feel secure. Both males and females coexist peacefully, and aggressive territorial disputes between sexes are virtually non-existent. Keeping a mixed-gender group is perfectly fine and encourages natural foraging behaviors.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Once daily
- They should be fed once daily, preferably in the evening, as they are nocturnal and most active after lights out. Providing targeted feeding near their hiding spots ensures they receive adequate nutrition without competition from active day-dwelling fish. Avoid overfeeding to maintain good water quality.
- Charge biologique
- Low
- Low
- Courant
- Moderate
- They prefer moderate water flow, which replicates the slow to moderately flowing river channels and streams they occupy in the wild. Gentle circulation keeps the water well-oxygenated and clean while allowing them to navigate the bottom easily. Avoid turbulent currents that could disrupt their benthic behavior.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding in captivity is very difficult and rarely documented. They are seasonal spawners that lay adhesive eggs in dense vegetation, requiring cold winter simulation followed by spring warming to trigger spawning. A dedicated tank with sandy substrate and thick plants is essential for any breeding attempts.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- They are peaceful, non-aggressive fish that should only be housed with small, peaceful temperate species that share their temperature requirements. Suitable tankmates include minnows, coldwater gobies, and other small loaches. Avoid tropical fish or large, aggressive species that could view them as food or cause stress.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- This species is strictly a bottom-dwelling fish that almost never leaves the substrate level of the aquarium. Their anatomy and natural behavior are entirely adapted to sifting through fine sand to extract small organisms and detritus. They will frequently bury themselves entirely, leaving only their eyes exposed, to rest or hide from perceived threats. It is extremely rare for a spined loach to venture into the midwater or upper levels of the tank.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,3 ± 0,4 se
- Résilience
- Moyenne (1,4 - 4,4 ans)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00417, b = 3.14
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible à modérée (33 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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