Pangio Loach

About

Found threading through the slow-moving rivers and sandy-bottomed streams of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, this small kuhli-type loach, Pangio pangia, is one of several closely related species that often get lumped together under the catch-all name 'pangio loach' in the trade. It is a slim, eel-like fish, typically reaching somewhere between an inch and a half and two and a half inches, and it shares the genus-wide habit of facultative air-breathing, meaning it can supplement gill respiration by gulping air at the surface when oxygen levels dip. In the aquarium, Pangio pangia does best with a soft, sandy substrate that lets it do what it loves most: nosing around, half-burying itself, and generally poking into every corner of the tank. It is a peaceful species that poses no threat to tankmates, though its small size means it should be kept away from anything large enough to swallow it. A tightly fitted lid is a must, as these loaches are determined escape artists. They tend to be more active after lights-out, so providing plenty of cover during the day in the form of leaf litter, caves, or dense planting will help them settle in and show more natural behavior. An intermediate-level choice, best suited to someone with a bit of experience setting up a species-appropriate environment.