Java Loach

The Java Loach, Pangio oblonga, is a nocturnal freshwater fish that originates in Southeast Asia and is found in Indonesia, India and Bangladesh, among other places. As with all animals in the genus Pangio, the body is scaleless and noticeably elongated, giving the loach an eel-like appearance. Another characteristic feature of this species is the cinnamon brown body color.

Care in the aquarium

The Java Loach, which can grow up to 12cm in size, should be kept in a group with at least 6 conspecifics and requires an aquarium that holds 60 liters or more. Pangio oblonga feels at home in a tank with dense planting, shelter options and dim lighting. Fine, non-sharp-edged substrates such as sand or soil are suitable, as this loach loves to dig and burrow into the ground. Soft to medium-hard water with a temperature between 24 and 26°C is optimal, although temperatures up to around 28°C can also be tolerated for short periods of time. Socializing this calm and extremely peaceful fish with other peaceful animals is possible without any problems.

Feeding

As omnivores, the Java Loach is not too picky. In nature, it mainly eats small, aquatic animals such as insect larvae or nematodes, but plant material such as algae is also on its menu. Small frozen and live food is therefore preferred in the aquarium. Dry food in the form of flakes or granules is also accepted.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

The sexes of the Java Loach differ in that the females are paler than the males and are also fuller at sexually mature age and have a visible spawning base. Breeding in an aquarium is not that easy and often happens by chance. This requires soft water as well as stone structures or roots that form narrow gaps. The spawning females squeeze through these gaps to squeeze out the eggs, which are then fertilized by a male. The young fish larvae hatch from these greenish colored eggs, that adhere to the substrate, after about 1-3 days.