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Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Freshwater Loaches > Peppered Loach

Peppered Loach

Freshwater Loaches Index

Peppered Loach

Guntea loach, Peppered Dojo Loach Family: Cobitidae Picture of a Peppered Loach, also called the Guntea loach or Peppered Dojo Loach

Lepidocephalichthys guntea Photo � Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

Latest Reader Comment - See More

I bought one of these fish believing it was a dojo loach. I have kept dojos before and this little guy is more peaceful even than dojos! He is slightly more attrac... (more) Janice 2007-06-27

The Peppered Loach is one of the burrowing loaches. Being quite shy, if it is frightened it will disappear quite quickly into the substrate!

This is a medium sized loach with a rather grayish yellow body color that is paler on the belly. A light horizontal stripe runs from its nose back to the base of its tail with a series of dark blotches above and below the length of the stripe. This gives it a rather 'peppered' look. There are also numerous small dark spots on the dorsal and tail fin. It also has a two-pronged spine under the eye and four pairs of barbels.

Being quite shy, the Peppered Loach likes to burrow into the substrate to hide. It will use the first spine on its dorsal fin to help dig itself in. It also likes to root out various worms and other foods it can find buried. Provide a soft substrate of sand or fine gravel, and have a good filter for the detritus they stir up. They are most active at night and will retreat during the day, squeezing under the ornamentation. Wood and flat river type rocks work well. Plants are nice but be sure they are potted.

The Peppered Loach is peaceful with most tank mates, and is suitable to keep in a community environment with other peaceful fish.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Dream Aquarium

Build your own aquarium The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

Geographic Distribution Lepidocephalichthys guntea


Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cobitidae
Data provided by FishBase.org

Care and feeding:
Since they are omnivorous, the Peppered Loach will generally eat all kinds of live foods, sinking pelleted and tablet foods, flakes, and algae. They like frozen foods as well. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake or tablet food everyday. Feed mosquito larvae and brine shrimp (either live or frozen), tubifex, daphnia, and some vegetable foods such as algae wafers.
This fish prefers a good sized aquarium (30 gallons or more) with places for retreat such as flat river type rocks and wood. Also use subdued lighting. They do best with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. Because they are constantly scavenging for tidbits and burying themselves in the substrate, use a sand or fine gravel that does not have sharp edges. Be sure to provide hardy plants with the roots protected.

Distribution:
The Peppered Loaches are found in Asia: Pakistan, northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Salween basin

Size - Weight:
These fish are can reach about 4 - 6" (10 - 15 cm) usually staying smaller in the aquarium.

Social Behaviors:
A peaceful community fish, they get along well with other non-aggressive tank mates. They are quite lively and active, especially in the evening. They will scavenge about the substrate for tidbits of food and love to dig and burrow.

Sexual Differences:
Unknown

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
These fish are mostly bottom dwellers.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: unknown
   Ph: 6.5-7.5
   Temp: 75 -80° F (24 -27° C)

Breeding/Reproduction:
The Peppered Loach have not yet been bred in the aquarium and they are not yet bred commercially.

Availability:
The Peppered Loach is occasionally available.

Latest Comments
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I bought one of these fish believing it was a dojo loach. I have kept dojos before and this little guy is more peaceful even than dojos! He is slightly more attractive in a small community tank. He exhibits the same mannerisms as similar loaches and is extremely mild-mannered. Janice 2007-06-27