Weather loach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
A long, cool-water loach that digs in sand and reacts to pressure changes; a good goldfish companion that reaches up to 11 inches.
Key facts
- Body length
- 11 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 76 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, worms
- Origin
- East Asia: Amur region, Korea, Japan, China and northern Vietnam
- Hardier than99%
- Bigger than91%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Weather loach tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Clown loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Peacock cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bladder snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Malaysian trumpet snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Mystery snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidOriental weather loach outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Convict cichlidOriental weather loach can eat young or small Convict cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- DiscusOriental weather loach outcompetes the slow-eating Discus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Jewel cichlidOriental weather loach can eat young or small Jewel cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- OscarOscar (predatory) will bully the peaceful Oriental weather loach.Risky
- Rainbow sharkOriental weather loach can eat young or small Rainbow shark; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Neon tetraOriental weather loach can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 7.0 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraOriental weather loach can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 7.0 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyOriental weather loach can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 7.0 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasOriental weather loach can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 7.0 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusOriental weather loach can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 7.0 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpOriental weather loach can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 7.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for weather loaches: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 28 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 269.83 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 38.02 BU
- Min. water
- 243 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 45 cm per group
- Group
- 1+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- bottom, substrate
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- slender eel, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Seriously Fish: Misgurnus anguillicaudatus · FishBase: Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Care notes
Weather loaches come from muddy ponds, rice fields and ditches across East Asia, from the Amur region to northern Vietnam. They are known for getting restless before storms, and gold and albino forms are common.
They prefer 64–73°F and need a tank around 55 gallons with a 4-foot footprint, soft sand and a tight lid because they jump. They eat eggs, fry and shrimp, and they are invasive in many countries, so never keep them in an outdoor pond or release them.
Questions
What size tank does a weather loach need?
At least 76 gallons (243 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 11 inches without fins.
How many weather loaches should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do weather loaches need?
64–73 °F, pH 6–8 and 1–12 dGH. Weather loaches come from East Asia: Amur region, Korea, Japan, China and northern Vietnam.
How long do weather loaches live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with weather loaches?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Blue dolphin cichlid, Chinese algae eater, Clown loach and Common pleco. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.