Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Java Loach
Pangio oblonga (Valenciennes, 1846)
Also called Black kuhli loach, Chocolate kuhli loach, Cinnamon loach, Cobitis oblonga (original name), Acanthophthalmus javanicus (former name)
From Southeast and South Asia. First described from Bogor in West Java; reported from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand, with FishBase also listing Indochina, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Eel-shaped (anguilliform) loach
A long, slim, worm-like loach with small fins set far back and short barbels around the mouth. Females are heavier and larger, and mature males have a thickened, branched first ray on the pectoral fin.1
Personality what they are like
Gentle and sociable. Java loaches like to rest in a tangle with others of their kind and quickly dive into the sand if startled. They leave other fish alone, though they may snack on eggs or very tiny fry.13
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Mostly active at dusk and after dark, sifting through sand and leaf litter; more visible in daylight when kept in a group with plenty of cover.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Fit a tight lid, as they can jump or slip through gaps. Use fine, soft sand they can burrow into, add leaf litter and plants, and keep water clean with gentle filtration and regular partial changes.13
Home where they are happiest
A base of at least 60 x 30 cm (about 54 litres). Temperature about 21 to 28 °C, pH about 3.5 to 7.0 (most guides suggest 6.2 to 7.0), very soft to soft water (0 to 8 dGH). In the wild they live in slow streams with muddy or sandy bottoms among plants and leaf litter.123
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A small bottom forager eating insect larvae, worms and tiny crustaceans. Offer sinking pellets or wafers plus live or frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, Mysis and bloodworm, ideally in the evening.123
Company who they like around
Keep in a group of at least 5 or 6. Good companions are small, peaceful fish such as rasboras, small tetras and corydoras, and dwarf shrimp.13
The story where it all began
Achille Valenciennes described the Java loach in 1846 from Bogor on Java. It is a close relative of the kuhli loach and has long been a regular in the aquarium trade, where its plain chocolate colour sets it apart from its striped cousins.13
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Java loaches can gulp air at the surface and absorb oxygen from it when the water is poor in oxygen.2
- 2
When frightened they disappear by diving straight into the sand.3
- 3
In nature they probably spawn in very shallow water in flooded forests.2
- 4
They can live in remarkably acidic water, with a recorded range down to about pH 3.5.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed December 2018)2
- Taxonomy
- Family Cobitidae. Described by Achille Valenciennes in 1846 as Cobitis oblonga; formerly placed in Acanthophthalmus. It may be a group of several closely related species.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Java Loach. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Seriously Fish: Pangio oblonga seriouslyfish.comused for names, origin, size, tank and water, diet, behaviour, dimorphism, taxonomy
- FishBase: Pangio oblonga summary fishbase.seused for distribution, length, environment, habitat, air breathing, IUCN status
- Wikipedia: Pangio oblonga en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, colour, burrowing, care
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.