Gongota Loach

About

The Gongota Loach (Canthophrys gongota) is a small bottom-dweller native to the river systems of India, Bangladesh, and reportedly Nepal, where it inhabits shallow, slow-moving streams over sandy, muddy, or gravelly substrates. You may also see this fish listed under the older name Somileptes gongota in aquarium literature, though that genus has been treated as a synonym of Canthophrys since the late 1990s. In the aquarium trade it turns up only rarely, largely because the species has a reputation for being fragile during shipping. So if you find one, it will likely be a deliberate purchase rather than an impulse buy. Despite the beginner care label, the Gongota Loach has some quirks worth knowing about. It carries sub-ocular spines that stay folded against the face under normal conditions but flick outward when the fish is stressed. A handy defense mechanism in the wild that can foul aquarium nets and occasionally catch skin, so handle with care. It is gregarious by nature and does far better in groups of six or more, where it relaxes and shows more interesting social behavior. That said, it can be pushy toward other bottom-dwellers, so tankmates need some thought. Upper-water swimmers like small cyprinids work well, and their presence actually helps calm the loaches. Captive breeding has not been documented.