Banded Kuhli Loach

The kuhli loach has an eel- or snake-like appearance with a yellow body and dark brown vertical stripes. Like other loaches, they have barbels around the mouth, which are used to find food in the substrate.
The banded kuhli loach is most active at twilight and at nighttime, both in nature and in the home aquarium, remaining hidden or buried in the sand during the day. Kuhli loaches are happiest when kept in groups of a half dozen or more, and they are easily kept with non-aggressive fish like corydoras, danios, rasboras and tetras.

These are very nocturnal creatures, so often they wait until dark to move throughout the fish tank. We recommend a small school of three to four so at least you have a chance to see a couple of them during the daylight hours.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Kuhlis love to burrow, so use a soft sand bottom with plants, leaf litter and hiding spots. Cover filter intakes with a sponge, since they can squeeze into small gaps, and keep a lid on the tank.

Feeding: Feed sinking pellets or wafers, ideally in the evening when kuhlis are most active. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Kuhlis do well with peaceful fish like tetras, rasboras, corydoras, danios and dwarf shrimp. Avoid large or aggressive fish that could eat them.

Good to know: Kuhlis are shy during the day; a larger group and plenty of cover help them come out more often.