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No federal permit to keepGuntea loach
Lepidocephalichthys guntea
Fishes › Carp, barbs, minnows, loaches (Cypriniformes) › Cobitidae (Spined loaches)
Lepidocephalichthys guntea, also known as guntea loach, scavenger loach or peppered loach, is a species of cobitid loach native to southern and south-eastern Asia.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 5.9 in / 15 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 31 × 12 in (roughly 19 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 68–77 °F, pH 6–8, 2–12 dGH.
- Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Not difficult to keep but must be provided with a soft, sandy substrate since some of its time will be spent completely buried, or with only eyes protruding.”
- Diet: “Chiefly a micropredator sifting mouthfuls of substrate through the gills from which insect larvae, small crustaceans and suchlike are extracted.”
- Breeding: “Presumably a seasonal spawner in nature but hasn't been bred in captivity as far as we know.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Spined loaches
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Spined loaches inhabit freshwater bottoms from tropical Pangio forest streams and swamps to temperate weather-loach streams, wetlands and paddy fields. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For Pangio semicincta, provide at least a 60 × 30 cm (24 × 12 in) footprint; adult Misgurnus anguillicaudatus need at least 120 × 45 cm (48 × 18 in).
- Use soft sand for burrowing; coarse gravel can injure fish and inhibit feeding.
- Provide shaded retreats beneath secured wood or smooth rocks, with leaf litter and low-light plants for Pangio.
- Cover the aquarium securely and protect filter intakes against entry by small loaches.
- Use mature biological filtration, gentle circulation and surface agitation rather than strong flow for Pangio and weather loaches.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 70–79°F |
Diet
- Sinking complete foods reaching the bottom.
- Live or frozen Daphnia and Artemia.
- Bloodworms and small worms as part of a varied diet.
Social life
- Keep Pangio in groups of at least five or six with peaceful companions. Weather loaches can be kept singly but appear more active with conspecifics; they may eat eggs, fry or tiny fish.
Health watch
- Skin injuries and feeding impairment from unsuitable burrowing substrate.
- Ammonia-related illness in immature aquaria.
- Nutritional deficiencies if bottom dwellers receive insufficient suitable food.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This species reaches a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. It uses its intestines to breathe, which gives it the ability to adapt to live in a variety of stagnant and flowing environments. This fish is found in the aquarium trade.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Lepidocephalichthys guntea” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water. Stays near the bottom. Found in flowing or even clear standing waters. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 93°F (up to 104°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 52°F (down to 46°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 72–80°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 65–76% on average (driest month about 57%) |
| Rainfall | about 1906 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 130 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Lepidocephalichthys guntea, also known as guntea loach, scavenger loach or peppered loach, is a species of cobitid loach native to southern and south-eastern Asia. This species reaches a length of 15 cm TL. It uses its intestines to breathe, which gives it the ability to adapt to live in a variety of stagnant and flowing environments. This fish is found in the aquarium trade. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Facultative air-breathing; Found in flowing or even clear standing waters. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 31 × 12 in (about 19 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish — pangio semicincta Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — misgurnus anguillicaudatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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