WEATHER LOACH

The 'Weather loach' or 'Dojo loach' (''Misgurnus anguillicaudatus''), is a freshwater fish in the loach family Cobitidae. They are native to Asia but are also popular as an aquarium fish. The name ''Weather loach'' is shared with several species including the European weather loach (''Misgurnus fossilis'') and the spotted weather loach (''Cobitis taenia''). The name weather loach comes from their ability to detect changes in barometric pressure and react with frantic swimming or standing on end. This is because before a storm the barometric pressure changes, and this is known to make the loach more active.
Like many other loaches, they are slender and eel-like. They can vary in color from yellow to olive green, to a common light brown or gray with lighter undersides. The mouth of the loach is surrounded by three sets of barbels. It uses them to sift through silt or pebbles to find food. It also uses them to dig under gravel and sand to conceal itself out of nervousness or defense unlike the other loaches who uses the spines beneath the eyes.
They can grow up to a 12 inches (30.5cm) long. The fish are bottom-dwelling scavengers, feeding mainly on organic material such as algae. Weather loaches are omnivorous and may also feed on tubifex worms and other small aquatic organisms. By producing a layer of mucus to keep themselves damp, they can also survive small periods of not being in the water. They are very hardy fish that can live in poor quality water.
One thing that makes this fish unique among the other tropical fish you see at your average fish store is the fact that they thrive at room temperature (68-72_F) and even as low as upper 50's. The usual tropical temperature will result in a significantly reduced lifespan (from an average 10 years to four or less). One assumes when buying tropical freshwater fish that all will thrive in that 76-82 range; not so with the dojo.
Sometimes this fish (especially the golden variety) is mistaken for the kuhli loach. The kuhli likes warm tropical temperatures, will tolerate more acidic conditions, and matures at a much smaller four inches. Very different fish, but may resemble each other while young, and at the usual age and size of what most fish stores market.

Contents

In the aquarium

See also

References

In the aquarium

Weather loaches are active, peaceful, and hardy fish that are sometimes used as starter fish in an aquarium. They can be "friendly" towards humans, allowing physical contact and hand feeding. They have, however, been known to attack very small fish in smaller aquariums or bite humans' fingers.
There are other varieties bred from captivity like the gold strain and the peppered strain(not to be confused with the pepper loach).

The loaches will be more active given more space and greater numbers. Solitary weather loaches tend to spend much of their time hiding. They will spend a lot of time hiding or staying still, but should be given a place to stay which will have cover and shade. Tank decorations that they can swim through and driftwood both work great for this. Due to their ability to survive out of the water, the fish will often jump out of an aquarium. A cover is required to keep them in their tank (these are escape artists, so you may have to extend the average cover with tape or other barriers). Also, they may even travel up tubes and take up residence in filters, so check there if your dojo doesn't show up for roll call one day. Weather loaches enjoy digging and burrowing themselves in the substrate of their tank, so make sure that your substrate is fine enough for them to dig in. If you keep live plants in your tank, they will be uprooted by the loaches, so it is a good idea to weight your plants. The weather loach is also peculiar in that it will sometimes bury itself in the substrate during times of stress. This often surprises new owners, as the fish will "disappear" shortly after introduction to the tank only to "reappear" later.
Because of their appetite for snails, these loaches can help alleviate snail infestations in tropical fish tanks, though many have reported that while weather loaches do eat snails, they do not eat them at a fast enough rate to deal with an infestation.
The fish prefer a pH of 6.5-8.0 but will tolerate far more acidic conditions even for extended amounts of time with little negative reaction. This makes the Weather Loach a great choice for first-time aquariums and for those who want a fish tank but do not want the intense, daily attention other fish require.

See also

★ Loach

References

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