There are so many types of Kuhli Loaches that it can be hard to know where to start. Some people assume all Kuhli Loaches are the same, but there is a lot more than meets the eye!
There are mainly three types of Kuhli Loaches, the most common type is Coolie Loach (Pangio Kuhlii) while the other two are Silver kuhli loaches (Pangio anguillaris) and Black Kuhli loaches (Pangio oblonga).
In this article, we will go over what you need to know about these fascinating fish and how to care for them in your home aquarium.
Types Of Kuhli Loaches
There are three different types of kuhli loach. The three types of kuhli loaches are the Coolie Loach (Pangio Kuhlii), Black Kuhli (Pangio oblonga) and Silver Kuhli (Pangio anguillaris).
The differentiating factor between these species is in their overall body shape and coloration as well as where they live.
Kuhli Loach (Pangio Kuhlii)/ Coolie Loach
This is the most common type of kuhli loach you will find in pet stores because they are available year-round for purchase. They generally have a brown or black stripe that runs down their body with emerald green on top as well white bellies.
Kuhli loaches are an inhabitant of the cool, fast-flowing streams and rivers found in Borneo. Despite their name, they do not originate from India or Sri Lanka where “coolie” is used to describe a laborer who works for low wages.
Kuhli loaches have a long body with a slender tapering tail. They are a mahogany brown color with darker stripes along the back and sides of their body. Yellow bands are also common on their body.
Black Kuhli (Pangio oblonga)
The black kuhli is a little more slender in build than the kuhli loaches; and has a pointed head with an upturned mouth. They also tend to grow larger, reaching up to five inches (12cm) long. Black Kuhlis are dark brown or black in coloration with yellowish cream-colored stripes along their body.
Silver Kuhli (Pangio anguillaris)
The silver kuhli loach is also native to Southeast Asia and can be found in clear, slow-moving waters. It has a long body that tapers off towards the tail with a pointed head that is rounder than the black variant. The fish’s coloring ranges from white to light brown to pearl gray, with a variety of black or dark brown stripes that run down the sides.
Silver kuhli loaches are bigger than their black counterparts. They can grow up to four inches when fully grown while it takes them only three to four months to do so. They don’t have any distinctive features other than being larger and taking less time to grow.
What Separates Different Types of Kuhli Loaches?
In the simplest terms, black and silver kuhlis are just different colors of the same species. But they also have some other distinctive features that set them apart from each other, such as their size and how long they take to mature into adults.
Black kuhlis are smaller than silver ones at just two inches in length when fully grown. They take about six months to a year to reach that size; while silver kuhlis can be as big as four inches when fully grown and only need three-to-four months. Black ones also have more slender bodies than the bigger slimmer-bodied silvers.
Types Of Striped Kuhli Loaches
Pangio oblonga
The black kuhli loach, also called the Black Coolie, is a type of freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia.
It can be identified by its elongated body shape with a pointed head that tapers to an even thinner tail stub. It is silver in coloration with dark, tapering stripes along its sides.
The black kuhli loach can grow up to five inches (12 cm) long and will take about six months to a year to reach that size. The smaller slimmer-bodied silvers are actually the same species like this one but they can grow up to four inches when fully grown.
Pangio kuhlii
The stripes of this Kuhli loach are not as dark and they are more rounded. The body shape is also rounder, with a head that tapers to a point at the rear rather than an elongated tapered tail like its black cousin.
Coolie Loach or the most common Kuhli loach has yellow and brown stripes and can reach lengths of six inches. It is also an elongated fish like the black kuhli loach but has a rounded body shape with a blunt head that tapers to a point at its rear end.
Which Type Of Kuhli Loaches Is Best To Keep?
The answer to this question mostly depends on your personal preference and what you are looking for in a fish. But when it comes down to which one would be the best fit, we recommend Pangio Kuhlii or black kuhli loaches as they have more docile temperaments than their silver counterparts. Furthermore, these types of fish are more appropriate for those with smaller set-ups.
What Is The Most Captivating Kuhli Loach?
Pangio Kuhlii is the most captivating type of kuhli loaches because they have a variety of colors, including browns and blacks. Compared to their silver counterparts, which only come in one solid color.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kuhli Loaches are a unique species that can be difficult to care for if you don’t know what they need. If you want your Kuhlis to thrive, follow the guidelines in this article and watch them grow into beautiful creatures!
