Clown loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus) are a popular species of freshwater tropical fish that are native to the rivers and streams of Southeast Asia, particularly Borneo and Sumatra. They are part of the loach family, and are also sometimes known as tiger loaches or polka-dot loaches. These fish are characterized by their bright orange coloration, covered in a pattern of black stripes or spots. They have elongated bodies that can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length, and long whisker-like barbels on their faces that they use to search for food. Clown loaches are a peaceful species that are best kept in groups of five or more. They are active swimmers and enjoy having plenty of space to explore and hide. They prefer a heavily planted tank with plenty of hiding places and a sandy or fine gravel substrate. They are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, including pellets, flakes, and frozen or live foods. Clown loaches are known for their playful personalities, and they are often seen engaging in "shoaling" behavior, where they swim together in a group. They are also known to make a distinctive "clicking" sound that they use to communicate with one another. Overall, clown loaches are a fascinating and engaging species that can make a great addition to a community aquarium.

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Scientific name: Homalopteroides tweediei (Herre, 1940) Common name: Lizard fish, Lizard catfish, Gecko fish Synonyms: Homaloptera tweediei Distribution: Mekong basin, Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, Borneo, Cambodia, Loas and Thailand Sexual Dimorphism: Unknown, Females are probably more plump with a broader body like the very similar Homaloptera smithi. Maximum size: 2 inches (4cm) Similar to: Homaloptera johorensis, Homalopteroides smithi Care: Typical Hillstream conditions. This species needs clean, well oxygenated water with a strong flow. There should be plenty of flat stones on which the fish can rest and plenty of hiding places. Driftwood, caves, broad leaved plants, and pieces of slate leaned against the tank glass provide refuge for this somewhat shy species. Feeding: Bloodworms and brine shrimp are the preferred food of this species. Most processed fish foods are ignored. Water parameters: pH:6.4 -7.5 Hardness: medium Max dh: 12 Temperature: 70ºF to 76ºF (21-25°C) Breeding: There is no record of this species breeding in captivity.

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Species – Pangio Anguillaris Common Name – Golden/neon Whiptail Khuli Origin – South-East Asia Diet – Omnivore PH Range – 5.5 – 7 Temperature – Tropical 23-30°c Maximum Size – approximately 10cm Sex – Un-sexed Images from: https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/pangio-doriae.446044/

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Kuhli Loach (the Coolie Loach) If you are looking for an interesting fishy friend, this baby is perfect!   Not only is their colouration attractive, but they require very little maintenance, which makes them a real coup for any home aquarium. The Kuhli loach Pangio Kuhlii is a social freshwater fish or an excellent tank mate. They originate from Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula and dwells in shallow rapids and swamps with slow-moving water.  Kuhli loaches are also known as clowns of the aquarium because they may do some unique behaviors like swimming upside down, behaving more like a cat than a fish. The stripes along its side make for an interesting pattern that all visitors to your home aquarium will surely appreciate. The habitat of this snake-like creature is usually found under rocks and logs, but it’s not uncommon to see it swimming around the tank. These nocturnal creatures are very slender, so you’ll need only a tiny improvised fish tank with several inches of water depth for your new friend!   Care Guide These little guys are perfect for any home aquarium since they’re usually pretty low maintenance (i.e., don’t need a lot of fish food or upkeep, will do well at room temperature, etc.). Plus, they even give those algae eaters a run for their money!  They may not eat algae but they demolish unfinished fish food, lowering your aquariums ammonia levels.    Fish Tank Parameters Temperature:24°-29°C Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: >30 ppm pH: 5.5-7.0 GH: 3-5 dGH (50-83 ppm) KH: 3-4 dKH (53-71 ppm)    Food These carnivores make the perfect pet for a fish enthusiast. They eat just about anything you put in their tank, but they seem to like blood worms and brine shrimp. Kuhli’s usually accept pellets or flakes in captivity; however, frozen live food such as mosquito larvae are recommended at least once every other day to help keep these animals healthy and thriving.   Appearance These small eel-looking fish with dark brown stripes yet transparent skin can range from 7.5 to 12.5cm and are a popular aquarium species for those who want something with personality. Their long bodies end with four pairs of barbels around their mouths – these help them find food on the bottom of lakes where they mostly live.   Kuhli Loach Home Habitat The Kuhli Loach is renowned for its coloration and beauty. They are found in South-East Asia, with their habitats being limited to the shallow, slow-moving waters of forest streams, a similar environment as old peat swamps, which have black waters. The water can be very acidic at times due to pH levels that range from 3.0 – 4.0 (with an extremely low mineral content) because there are usually high amounts of organic material such as plants decaying on the riverbed’s substrate from sand or mud.   Kuhli Loach Behaviour The Kuhli Loach is a peaceful fish to anything not too small. They may seem like the definition of lazy during daylight hours; however, as night falls, their behavior changes to one reminiscent of submarines on patrol! These marine scavengers spend the most time near river beds looking for food that has sunken down from above- such as plant debris or smaller creatures unlucky enough to find themselves at the bottom without anything else nearby to use in self-defense against these predators. This means that, unlike other fishes who spend all day hunting on top of water’s surface, demersal creatures such as Kuhli’s prefer hiding out under rocks or among aquatic plants close enough to get maximum exposure without fear of being eaten by predators.   Kuhli Loach and Aquarium Fishes Compatibility Kuhli Loaches are peaceful fish who will spend most of their time swimming at the bottom of your tank. They’re best kept with other small non-aggressive schooling fish such as Corydoras, Danios, Rasboras, and Tetras so that they can scavenge peacefully among them without being disturbed by more active swimmers like Angelfish or Tilapia. Good tankmates in this situation include White Cloud Mountain Minnows, Oto Catfish, and shrimps like the Red Cherry Shrimp.   These creatures inhabit a higher elevation than Kuhlis do on average, meaning there is less chance for territorial disputes to occur when you decide between which species make up your aquarium ecosystem! Cute Eel Body with a Dorsal Fin These tiny aquatic creatures have eel-shaped bodies, four pairs of barbels around the mouth, and pretty cute little fins. The dorsal fin starts behind the middle of your pet’s body, while their anal fin is well behind this.   How to Breed Kuhli Loach It can be challenging to breed Kuhli Loaches, but it is possible to set up a breeding tank with the following parameters. The water levels should be lower, and there should not be much light for females to lay their eggs on plants or dense vegetation that will promote spawning. Lowering the hardness of your water while maintaining its acidity at pH 6.5 could help make this process more feasible.   What about an aggressive fish like a Betta? Can’t help but feel your Betta is a grump but still needs friends? Introduce the Kuhli Loach as the Betta’s BFF. Friendly, infinitely easier than breeding guppies, and practically guaranteed to get along with any other species of organism in your tank! Kuhli loaches thrive on anything and might end up being one of your underwater buddies for life!   Kuhli Skin Shedding  The Kuhli Loach’s skin may come off like a bad shirt that no longer fits, but nothing can phase this tough critter. In fact, this is totally normal for them, as they naturally shed.  We recommend providing plenty of salt in their water tank to keep it clean during this time. Also consider floating plants to keep your tank healthy!   Skin Watch Some Loaches develop a white patch on their side that goes over areas of their skin, giving them the look of being bald. They might also have some kind of skin affliction like scales or spots across their body as well. There are many reasons why this may happen, but regardless it’s a cause for concern. Your water quality and tank mates should be inspected because sometimes fighting between other fish can result in wounds and ulcerations to your pet! You need to make sure you provide them with plenty of hiding places; those that live exclusively on the bottom tend to hide more often than others, so sand substrate really helps promote natural behavior too! Get any pollution under control at home if possible (you know what’s in there).

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