Weather Loach

Looks how to spot one

Long, eel-like loach with barbels

A slender, eel-like loach with three pairs of barbels around the mouth for feeling through the sand. The wild form is olive to brownish grey with dark speckles and a paler belly, and females grow larger than males.23

Personality what they are like

Peaceful and friendly with its own kind and other fish, and often quite comical, resting in odd poses and then bursting back into action.32

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Becomes noticeably more active and lively when kept with others of its kind.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Needs a fine, soft sand bottom for digging and a tight-fitting lid, as it can jump. Not a tropical fish, so no heater is usually needed indoors.23

Home where they are happiest

A large tank with a base of at least 120 x 45 cm (about 240 litres) suits adults. Seriously Fish recommends 18-23 C (tolerates 5-25 C), pH 6.0-8.0 and hardness 1-12 dGH.31

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A bottom forager that eats worms, insect larvae and small crustaceans. Sinking foods work well, with regular live or frozen Daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm.132

Company who they like around

Best kept in a group of at least three.23

The story where it all began

The weather loach comes from the rivers, ponds and rice fields of East Asia, where it has long been a food fish in Korea, Japan and China. It became a popular aquarium and pond fish thanks to its hardiness and friendly nature.23

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (assessed 20 September 2011)1

FishBase

Listed as used in the commercial aquarium trade1