lampropeltis getula brooksi ( also known as brooks ' kingsnake ) is a non-venomous snake in the lampropeltis genus .

it is one of seven subspecies of lampropeltis getula .

they are found in southern florida .

lampropeltis getula brooksi

coluber getulus linnaeus 1766 : 382 herpetodryas getulus — schlegel ophibolus getulus — baird & girard 1853 : 85 coronella getulus — duméril , bibron & duméril 1854 : 616 coronella getulus var . pseudogetulus – jan 1865 ophibolus getulus — cope 1875 : 11 ophibolus getulus — garman 1884 : 68 ophilobus [ sic ] getulus — cope 1892 : 335 triaeniopholis arenarius werner 1924 triaenopholis [ sic ] arenarius werner 1924 ( fide smith 1928 ) lampropeltis getula sticticeps barbour & engels 1942 lampropeltis getulus goini neill & allen 1949 : 101 lampropeltis getulus brooksi barbour 1919 lampropeltis getula floridana blanchard 1919 lampropeltis getulus sticticeps — lazell & musick 1981 lampropeltis getula — stebbins 1985 : 191 lampropeltis getula — conant & collins 1991 : 205 lampropeltis getula — liner 1994 lampropeltis getula getula — tennant & bartlett 2000 : 413 lampropeltis getula floridana — crother 2000 : 64 lampropeltis getula floridana — tennant & bartlett 2000 : 416 lampropeltis getula floridana — hallmen 2005 lampropeltis getula meansi krysko & judd 2006 lampropeltis getula meansi — skubowius 2009 lampropeltis getula — pyron & burbrink 2009 lampropeltis getula goini — renner in berg 2013 lampropeltis getula floridana — laita 2013 lampropeltis getula — wallach et al . 2014 : 357
steen , d . , l . smith . 2009 . eastern kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula getula ) home ranges exhibit limited overlap .
zweifel , r . 1997 . alternating use of hemipenes in the kingsnake , lampropeltis getula .
allen , e . rross ; neill , wilfred t . 1954 . juveniles of brooks ' kingsnake , lampropeltis getulus brooksi . copeia 1954 ( 1 ) : 59 - get paper here
wund , m . , m . torocco , r . zappalorti , h . reinert . 2007 . activity ranges and habitat use of lampropeltis getula getula ( eastern kingsnakes ) .
leclere , jeffrey b . 1995 . lampropeltis getula holbrooki . herpetological review 26 ( 2 ) : 110 - get paper here
brisbin , i . 1968 . evidence for the use of post anal musk as an alarm device in the kingsnake lampropeltis getula .
krysko , k . 2002 . seasonal activity of the florida kingsnake lampropeltis getula floridana ( serpentes : colubridae ) in southern florida .
van peenan , p . , t . birdwell . 1968 . coccidian parasites of the california nanded kingsnake , lampropeltis getula californiae .
hubbs , brian 2009 . common kingsnakes , a natural history of lampropeltis getula . tricolor books , tempe az , 436 pp .
groves , john d . 2014 . lampropeltis getula ( common kingsnake ) diet . herpetological review 45 ( 3 ) : 516 - 517
schmidt , d . 2004 . die kettennatter lampropeltis getula . natur und tier verlag ( münster ) , 64 pp . - get paper here
williams , p . , l . brisbin . 1978 . responses of captive - reared eastern kingsnakes ( lampropeltis getula ) to several prey odor stimuli .
clark , r . 2013 . cannibalism in the common kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula ) . sonoran herpetologist 26 ( 3 ) : 55 . - get paper here
burkett , doug ; painter , charles w . 1998 . geographic distribution . lampropeltis getula splendida . herpetological review 29 ( 2 ) : 113 - get paper here
klueh - mundy , sarabeth and mirtl , jason 2016 . geographic distribution : lampropeltis getula nigra ( eastern black kingsnake ) herpetological review 47 ( 4 ) : 630
skubowius , b . 2009 . haltung und nachzucht der kettennattern , lampropeltis getula , floridas . draco 10 ( 37 ) : 56 - 62 - get paper here
to cite this page : bartz , s . 2012 .
lampropeltis getula
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
collins , joseph t . ; sapienza , david c . 1998 . geographic distribution . lampropeltis getula nigra . herpetological review 29 ( 3 ) : 177 - get paper here
mcallister , chris t . and henry w . robison . 2010 . geographic distribution : lampropeltis getula holbrooki . herpetological review 41 ( 3 ) : 380 - get paper here
phillips , christopher a . ; petzing , john e . 1998 . geographic distribution . lampropeltis getula holbrooki . herpetological review 29 ( 3 ) : 177 - get paper here
young , cameron a . ; iverson , john b . 1997 . geographic distribution . lampropeltis getula nigra . herpetological review 28 ( 1 ) : 52 - get paper here
boundy , jeff . 2011 . book review : common kingsnakes - a natural history of lampropeltis getula . herpetological review 42 ( 3 ) : 453 - 455 - get paper here
zweifel , richard g . 1997 . alternating use of hemipenes in the kingsnake , lampropeltis getula . journal of herpetology 31 ( 3 ) : 459 - 461 - get paper here
comparison with other species : the eastern apalachicola lowlands kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula meansi ) has either fewer than 26 wide crossbands , or is non - banded ( striped or patternless ) , and 21 dorsal scale rows at midbody . the eastern kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula getula ) has fewer than 19 - 32 light crossbands on the body , no lightening of the black interband scales , a lateral chain - like pattern , and usually 21 dorsal scale rows at midbody .
renner , d . 2013 . die gesprenkelte kettennatter , lampropeltis getula holbrooki – eine unterschätzte schönheit . reptilia ( münster ) 18 ( 103 ) : 60 - 64 - get paper here
slevin , joseph r . 1950 . a remarkable concentration of desert snakes [ lampropeltis getula yumensis californiae nigrita ] . herpetologica 6 ( 1 ) : 12 - 13 - get paper here
thums , m . 2004 . die schwarze mexiko - kettennatter ( lampropeltis getula nigrita ) im terrarium . reptilia ( münster ) 9 ( 49 ) : 72 - 75 - get paper here
michaeli , a . s . , newman , j . c . & barrett , k . 2018 . geographic distribution : lampropeltis getula ( eastern kingsnake ) . herpetological review 49 : 77 .
smith , philip w . 1956 . a blotch - count gradient in snakes [ lampropeltis triangulum syspila calligaster getula getulus niger ] . herpetologica 12 ( 2 ) : 156 - 160 - get paper here
davenport , stephen r . ; stuart , james n . ; sias , don s . 1998 . geographic distribution . lampropeltis getula californiae . herpetological review 29 ( 1 ) : 53 - get paper here
lazell , j . d . & musick , j . a . 1981 . status of the outer banks kingsnake , lampropeltis getula sticticeps . herpetological review 12 ( 1 ) : 7 - get paper here
pyron , r . alexander ; frank t . burbrink 2009 . lineage diversification in a widespread species : roles for niche divergence and conservatism in the common kingsnake , lampropeltis getula . molecular ecology 18 : 3443–3457
range : in florida , it is found throughout the peninsula from volusia co . south to key largo . it intergrades ( interbreeds ) with the eastern kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula getula ) from nassau co . in the northern peninsula south to pinellas co . in the central peninsula . it is not found outside of florida .
knepton , j . 1951 . reproduction by a king snake lampropeltis getulus getulus , linneaus .
winne , c . , j . wilson , b . todd , k . andrews , j . gibbons . 2007 . enigmatic decline of a protected population of eastern kingsnakes , lampropeltis getula , in south carolina .
pyron , r . alexander ; frank t . burbrink 2009 . systematics of the common kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula ; serpentes : colubridae ) and the burden of heritage in taxonomy . zootaxa 2241 : 22 - 32 - get paper here
godley , j . steve ; brian j . halstead , and roy w . mcdiarmid 2016 . ecology of the eastern kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula ) at rainey slough , florida : a vanished eden project simus , fl - get paper here
nemuras , k . 1966 . additional records of lampropeltis getulus getulus and lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata in anne arundel county , maryland . bull . maryland herp . soc . 2 ( 3 ) : 5 - get paper here
krysko , k . l . ; judd , w . s . 2006 . morphological systematics of kingsnakes , lampropeltis getula complex ( serpentes : colubridae ) , in the eastern united states . zootaxa 1193 : 1 - 39 . - get paper here
boback , scott ; link , shelly ; bergman , enoch ; hill , ben ; montgomery , chad ; hobert , justin ; mackessey , stephen p . 1996 . geographic distribution . lampropeltis getula . herpetological review 27 ( 4 ) : 213 - get paper here
bergman , enoch ; montgomery , chad ; childers , theresa ; manzer , jerry d . ; sifert , james ; hill , ben ; mackessy , stephen p . 1998 . geographic distribution . lampropeltis getula . herpetological review 29 ( 2 ) : 113 - get paper here
godley , j . steve ; brian j . halstead , and roy w . mcdiarmid 2017 . ecology of the eastern kingsnake ( lampropeltis getula ) at rainey slough , florida : a vanished eden herpetological monographs 31 ( 1 ) : 47 - 68 . - get paper here
lara - gongora , guillermo ; beaman , kent r . ; grismer , l . lee ; lawler , howard e . 1993 . lampropeltis getula californiae ( california kingsnake ) . méxico : sonora . herpetological review 24 ( 2 ) : 67 - 68 - get paper here
manning , glenn j . , thomas j . belford , brad birchfield , jeremy r . sloan and james u . van dyke . 2015 . geographic distribution : lampropeltis getula splendida x holbrooki ( desert / speckled kingsnake intergrade ) . herpetological review 46 ( 4 ) : 574
price , a . , j . lapointe . 1981 . structure - functional aspects of the scent gland in lampropeltis getulus splendida .
krysko , kenneth l . ; leroy p . nuñez , catherine e . newman , brian w . bowen 2017 . phylogenetics of kingsnakes , lampropeltis getula complex ( serpentes : colubridae ) , in eastern north america . j hered . : esw086 . doi : 10 . 1093 / jhered / esw086 - get paper here
blaney , richard m . 1973 . lampropeltis . catalogue of american amphibians and reptiles ( 150 ) : 1 - 2 - get paper here
blom , m . 2003 . algemene verzorging en kweek van lampropeltis en elaphe soorten . lacerta 61 ( 1 ) : 32 - 39 - get paper here
seufer , h . & jauch , h . 1980 . die kettennatter lampropeltis getulus . herpetofauna 2 ( 6 ) : 11 - 14 - get paper here
not every king snake found in this area is a stunning example . many specimens are average in looks and can hardly be distinguished from a typical florida king snake from further north . kings are much less commonly seen than the exotic burmese python , which now shares the same habitat . i have seen a precious few specimens in many trips to south florida in the last decade . for even the most dedicated field herper , finding a nice brooksi in the wild is a true challenge .
thissen , r . & hansen , h . 2001 . königsnattern - lampropeltis . natur und tier verlag ( münster ) , 172 pp . - get paper here
the miami rim rock and southern everglades is the historic domain of brooksi . the king snake ' s coloration in this area is thought to be an adaptation to the light oolitic limestone background . as in other areas of florida , the king snake population here has been greatly reduced . several factors contributing to this reduction have been discussed , but the exact cause is still a mystery . one thing is for sure , finding a nice brooks ' king specimen in the wild is now quite a challenge .
seufer , h . & jauch , h . 1980 . die kettennatter lampropeltis getulus teil 2 . herpetofauna 2 ( 7 ) : 31 - 32 - get paper here
the specific name formerly was getulus ( see frost and collins 1988 ) . see blaney ( 1977 ) for the latest range - wide taxonomic treatment of this species . based on patterns of morphological variation , means and krysko ( 2001 ) concluded that the name l . g . goini is invalid , as is the hypothesis that apalachicola l . getula are relict populations of intergrades between l . g . getula and l . g . floridana . they believed that the polymorphic eastern apalachicola lowlands populations are most closely related to l . g . getula . see also crother et al . ( 2000 ) for further brief discussion of taxonomic issues involving this species .
meierkord , r . 2010 . haltung und zucht der kalifornischen kettennatter , lampropeltis californiae . reptilia ( münster ) 15 ( 82 ) : 52 - 55 - get paper here
blanchard , frank n . 1932 . a clutch of eggs of the speckled king snake , lampropeltis getulus holbrooki ( stejneger ) . copeia 1932 ( 2 ) : 98 - get paper here
hoser , r . t . 2012 . a three - way division of the new world genus lampropeltis fitzinger , 1843 . australasian j . herpetol . 12 : 54–57 . - get paper here
neill , wilfred t . ; allen , e . ross 1949 . a new kingsnake ( genus lampropeltis ) from florida . herpetologica 5 ( 5 ) : 101 - 106 - get paper here
blanchard , frank n . 1919 . two new snakes of the genus lampropeltis . occasional papers of the museum of zoology , university of michigan ( 70 ) : 1 - 11 - get paper here
conant , roger 1934 . observations on the eggs and young of the black king snake , lampropeltis getulus nigra ( yarrow ) . copeia 1934 ( 4 ) : 188 - 189 - get paper here
blaney , richard m . 1977 . systematics of the common kingsnake , lampropeltis getulus ( linnaeus ) . tulane studies in zoology and botany 19 ( 3 - 4 ) : 47 - 103 - get paper here
blanchard , frank n . 1920 . a synopsis of the king snakes : genus lampropeltis fitzinger . occasional papers of the museum of zoology , university of michigan ( 87 ) : 1 - 7 - get paper here
dessauer , herbert c . & pough , f . h . 1975 . geographic variation of blood proteins and the systematics of kingsnakes ( lampropeltis getulus ) . comp . biochem . physiol . 50b : 9 - 12
lazell , james d . , jr & musick , j . a . 1973 . the kingsnake , lampropeltis getulus sticticeps , and the ecology of the outer banks of north carolina . copeia 1973 ( 3 ) : 497 - 503 - get paper here
zweifel , r . g . and norris , k . s . 1955 . contributions to the herpetology of sonora , mexico : descriptions of new subspecies of snakes ( micruroides euryxanthus and lampropeltis getulus ) and miscellaneous collecting notes . american midland naturalist 54 : 230 - 249 - get paper here
austin , james d . ; gregory , patrick t . 1999 . relative roles of thermal and chemical cues in the investigative behavior of prey in colubrid ( elaphe guttata and lampropeltis getulus ) and boid ( python regius ) snakes . herpetological natural history 6 ( 1 ) : 47 - 50 [ 1998 ]
oviparous . kreutz ( 2005 ) reports hybrids between elaphe ( = pantherophis ) guttata and lampropeltis getulus californiae , between e . ( p . ) guttata and l . pyromelana , between e . ( p . ) guttata and l . triangulum sinaloae / nelsoni , and between e . ( p . ) guttata and l . zonata !
common kingsnakes are one of the only kingsnake species found throughout most of north america . there are seven subspecies of
( eastern kingsnake ) is found on the east coast of north america from southern new jersey and southeast pennsylvania to the eastern parts of west virginia , southwest to mobile bay , alabama , and east through northern florida .
( florida kingsnake ) is found on the peninsula of florida south to dade county .
( speckled kingsnake ) is found in southwestern illinois , eastern iowa , and south central alabama .
( black kingsnake ) is found west of the appalachian mountains and east of the mississippi river ; this includes the region from west virginia to southern ohio , southeastern illinois , and northern alabama .
( outer banks kingsnake ) is found only in north carolina from cape hatteras to cape lookout .
( black desert kingsnake ) can be found in southern arizona and northwestern mexico . subspecies overlap and interbreed in several different regions across north america .
( bartlett and bartlett , 2005 ; ernst and barbour , 1989 ; mitchell , 1994 ; wright and wright , 1957 ; wund , et al . , 2007 )
( ernst and barbour , 1989 ; mattison , 1995 ; wright and wright , 1957 ; wund , et al . , 2007 )
varies so greatly across subspecies , each will be described in turn . one measure they all share is the length of hatchlings : 20 to 28 cm at hatching . adult eastern kingsnakes (
) can reach a length of 61 to 153 cm . they are large , solid , glossy black snakes with yellow ( sometimes white ) crossbars extending the length of the snake . the head is solid black with several yellow or white spots decorating the head scales . speckled kingsnakes (
) can reach a length of 51 to 132 cm as adults . they are black with yellow “specks” on and throughout its scales . the underside is pale yellow to white with some of the black scales curling around the sides . california kingsnakes (
) can reach lengths of 91 to 106 cm . they have white crossbars intercepting black patches along the length of the back . the head is normally white with a black top and a few black scales on the side . adult florida kingsnakes (
) can be 106 to 138 cm long . the only major difference between florida kingsnakes and eastern kingsnakes has 60 crossbands , whereas eastern kingsnakes have only 30 . the underbelly is pale yellow with alternating patterns of black scales in a “zigzag” pattern . black kingsnakes (
) , reach 91 to 122 cm and are rarely totally black . they normally have traces of approximately 50 to 95 faint crossbars of yellow or white spots . outer banks kingsnakes (
) can reach 123 to 153 cm . they can be easily mistaken for other subspecies including eastern , speckled , and florida kingsnakes . they have yellow crossbars and yellow “specks” between the crossbars , as well as a mostly pale yellow underbellies with some black scales extending to the sides . black desert kingsnakes (
) can reach lengths of 106 to 132 cm . they are black and glossy with approximately 75 thin yellow crossbars . this subspecies also has yellow spots on the black scales that extend to the sides of the snake .
snake eggs have a large amount of yolk that contains the fats and the carbohydrates necessary for embryo development . towards the final stages of development , the fetal snake absorbs the yolk . additionally , some of the calcium for the egg’s shell is extracted by the embryo and is used to form its skeleton . after the skeleton is formed , the shell becomes thinner and more flexible . oxygen exchange decreases over time , which in turn urges the hatchling to break out of the egg , using the deciduous egg
tooth
on the nose .
after common kingsnakes hatch , they stay in the nest until they shed their skin for the first time . this normally takes about a week . the hatchlings then disperse . information about post - hatching is scarce . common kingsnakes reach sexual maturity at approximately half their potential maximum size from 60 to 92 cm . in captivity , they can reach sexual maturity much sooner because of an abundant food source and limited parasites and disease .
male common kingsnakes compete for females . if two males are in the same area they will both raise their heads , necks , and fore parts of their bodies and entwine them . males then try to press each other to the ground . the losing male will retreat and lay coiled in a prone position with his head flat to the ground . the victorious male will return to the female who waits nearby and copulate . males are able to find females through pheromone trails . when mating , males lie atop females and bite their necks . males then coil their tails under the females until their cloacas align . the male uses his hemipenis to enter the females’ cloacae . copulation can last for several minutes to several hours .
common kingsnakes mate in the spring , allowing females time to lay their eggs when the weather is still warm enough for proper incubation . their gestation period is about 60 days . in warmer climates ( e . g . florida ) , courtship can begin as early as march . in northern portions of the range , courtship is delayed until april or may .
a female may produce a single clutch from multiple mates . females may also produce more than one clutch per season as a result of more than one mating . the female chooses the nesting site , which can include rotting logs and stumps , as well as sawdust piles . common kingsnakes breed yearly and have been known to produce more than one clutch per season . the breeding season is between march and august . the average number of offspring is 10 eggs per clutch ( range 3 to 24 ) . average gestation period for female kingsnakes is 60 to 62 days ( range 50 to 80 days ) . hatchlings can weigh between 9 and 14 grams . females reach sexual maturity at 2 to 4 years . males reach sexual maturity at age 1 to 4 .
breeding interval yearly , common kingsnakes have been known to produce more than one clutch per season .
after copulation the male will leave the female and not return to help with parental care . after the female lays her eggs she will disperse and not return to the nest .
little information is available on the longevity of wild common kingsnakes . most available information is from captive snakes . ernst and barbour ( 1989 ) found that the oldest wild common kingsnake was 9 years old ( reported in 1937 ) . anage reported that the longest living kingsnake in captivity was 33 . 3 years old .
common kingsnakes are diurnal . their annual activity period is between late march or early april to october and early november . they hibernate during the winter in caves , rock crevices , mammal burrows , hollow logs , and in old stumps . during the cooler days of the spring and fall they can be found out during the day sunning themselves . common kingsnakes spend a majority of their day under leaf litter and other debris ( 79 % ; wund et al . 2007 ) and the rest of the time is spent traveling , basking , and hunting ( 21 % ; wund et al . 2007 ) . common kingsnakes are not restricted to the ground , they can climb trees and swim quite well . combat between males is common ( during mating season ) .
( ernst and barbour , 1989 ; krysko , 2002 ; mattison , 1995 ; mitchell , 1994 ; wund , et al . , 2007 )
a recent study proposed that common kingsnakes have home ranges of 330 to 350 square meters and can take up to 103 days to cover distances across their small ranges .
adult common kingsnake diet varies across subspecies and is very broad , but published reports are available for a few representative subspecies . eastern kingsnakes and florida kingsnakes feed mainly on other snakes , including venomous snakes (
) . they also eat other non - venomous snakes , birds , vertebrate eggs , lizards , mice , and rats . california kingsnakes prey on mice , gopher snakes (
) . common kingsnakes have several defenses against potential predators . the most common is hissing , striking , “s” shaped striking pose , biting , and flight . they flee when threatened , rather than hold their ground . they are also able to spread a pungent musk that serves as an alarm substance to other common kingsnakes in the area . the banded and striped pattern of california kingsnakes , and other subspecies , disguises their movement and body outline when they are fleeing from a predator . their coloration may make them cryptic in leaf litter and against other backgrounds .
common kingsnakes are beneficial for the ecosystem . they help keep rodent and frog populations in balance as well as other snakes like rattlesnakes (
) . they are also prey for larger snakes and predatory birds and mammals . snider and bawler ( 1992 ) conducted a study to find if parasites were the cause of common kingsnake declines in florida . they found suggestions of parasite activity but no direct evidence . van peenan and birdwell ( 1968 ) found evidence of several species of parasites affecting common kingsnakes . these include apicomplexan species (
( snider and bawler , 1992 ; ernst and barbour , 1989 ; oldak , 1976 ; snider and bawler , 1992 ; van peenan and birdwell , 1968 ; winne , et al . , 2007 ; wund , et al . , 2007 )
) . they play an important role in controlling populations of venomous snakes , which can pose a threat to humans .
( ernst and barbour , 1989 ; mitchell , 1994 ; snider and bawler , 1992 ; winne , et al . , 2007 )
common kingsnakes are listed as a “species of concern” on the u . s . federal list . this may be because florida kingsnakes ,
, are in decline . reasons for declines include anthropogenic causes through extensive pet trade , road fatalities , and habitat loss . invasive fire ants (
( mitchell , 1994 ; snider and bawler , 1992 ; wund , et al . , 2007 )
sarah bartz ( author ) , radford university , rachelle sterling ( editor ) , special projects , karen powers ( editor ) , radford university , tanya dewey ( editor ) , university of michigan - ann arbor .
living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .
having markings , coloration , shapes , or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment ; being difficult to see or otherwise detect .
in deserts low ( less than 30 cm per year ) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity . vegetation is typically sparse , though spectacular blooms may occur following rain . deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate . in dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry . this is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants . in dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil . salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots .
forest biomes are dominated by trees , otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality .
having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment ; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature .
the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced , thus lowering the animal ' s energy requirements . the act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state , typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals .
offspring are produced in more than one group ( litters , clutches , etc . ) and across multiple seasons ( or other periods hospitable to reproduction ) . iteroparous animals must , by definition , survive over multiple seasons ( or periodic condition changes ) .
this terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains , either without vegetation or covered by low , tundra - like vegetation .
the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female ; development of offspring occurs outside the mother ' s body .
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets .
the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males , each of which also pairs with several different females .
referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody ( usually , but not always , a river or stream ) .
a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water , often dominated by woody vegetation .
that region of the earth between 23 . 5 degrees north and 60 degrees north ( between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle ) and between 23 . 5 degrees south and 60 degrees south ( between the tropic of capricorn and the antarctic circle ) .
a terrestrial biome . savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy . extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical africa and south america , and in australia .
a grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees , a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest . see also tropical savanna and grassland biome .
a terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes ( > 23 . 5° n or s latitude ) . vegetation is made up mostly of grasses , the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available . fire and grazing are important in the long - term maintenance of grasslands .
living in cities and large towns , landscapes dominated by human structures and activity .
baker , r . , g . mengden , j . bull . 1972 . karyotypic studies of thirty - eight species of north america .
groves , f . , j . groves . 1972 . keratophagy in snakes .
megonigal , j . , c . w . h . , k . s . , s . r . r . . 1997 . aboveground production in southeastern floodplain forests : a test of the subsidy - stress hypothesis .
oldak , p . 1976 . comparison of the scent gland secretion lipids of twenty - five snakes : implications for biochemical systematics .
pough , h . 1977 . the relationship between body size and blood oxygen affinity in snakes .
stophlet , j . 1957 . nocturnal predation on summer tanager nestling by kingsnake .
wilson , w . , s . friddle . 1950 . the herpetology of hardy county , west virginia .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
description average adult size is 36 - 48 inches ( 91 . 4 - 121 . 9 cm ) , record is 69 . 5 inches ( 176 . 5 cm ) . adults are variable in coloration from brown to yellow . they have more than 40 yellowish dorsal crossbands and a degenerate lateral chain - like pattern . the scales between the crossbands lighten with age , starting as black , they may develop to be the same light color as the crossbands . the belly has a checkerboard pattern . the scales are smooth , and there are usually 23 dorsal scale rows at midbody ( some individuals have 21 ) . the pupil is round . juveniles are distinctly crossbanded ( sometimes with red pigment within crossbands ) and most of the scales between the crossbands are black .
a . top of the head ( notice the large plate - like scales on the top of the head ) b . smooth scales c . elongated scales below the tail ( subcaudal scales ) are typically divided d . front ( face view ) of the head e . side of the head
habitat : uncommon , it is found in pinelands , hardwood hammocks , cypress strands , prairies , marshes , estuaries , sugar cane plantations , and stands of melaleuca ( australian punk trees ) .
comments : harmless ( non - venomous ) , and seldom bites . the florida kingsnake is mainly terrestrial and active during the day , yet in the summer months individuals may be found moving at night .
it feeds on other snakes , lizards , frogs , rodents , turtle eggs , and birds and their eggs . it eats venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes , and is immune to their venom . it is even known to be cannibalistic , eating its own kind .
it lays eggs . it is primarily active from february - may , when breeding takes place . in the early summer , 3 - 30 eggs are laid . newborns from 5 - 8 inches ( 12 . 7 - 20 . 3 cm ) hatch in late summer .
division of herpetology • dickinson hall • gainesville , fl 32611 - 7800 • 352 - 273 - 1945 • dr . coleman sheehy , collection manager
holotype : unknown ( fide pyron & burbrink 2009 ) . holotype : florida state museum of natural history ; was : wtn 19211 ( wt neill , private collection ) [ goini ] holotype : uf 73433 ( field tag dbm 1360 ) , an adult male [ meansi ]
the generic name was derived from the greek words lampro , meaning
bright or clear
and pelte , meaning
a small shield ,
applied in reference to the shiny
scales .
the specific epithet refers to the getulian people of northern morocco , whose tribal insignia bears a resemblance to the ‘chain’ pattern of the kingsnakes of the eastern seaboard of the united states . l . g . meansi has been named after the collector of the type , d . bruce means .
allen , morrow j . 1932 . a survey of the amphibians and reptiles of harrison county , mississippi . american museum novitates ( 542 ) : 1 - 20 - get paper here
anonymous 2007 . snakes of new jersey . new jersey division of fish and wildlife
baird , s . f . and c . girard . 1853 . catalogue of north american reptiles in the museum of the smithsonian institution . part 1 . - serpents . smithsonian inst . , washington , xvi + 172 pp . - get paper here
barbour , t . and engels 1942 . two interesting new snakes . proc . new england zool . club 20 : 101 - 104
barbour , thomas 1917 . another new jersey king snake . copeia 1917 ( 49 ) : 92 - get paper here
bateman , heather l . ; alice chung - maccoubrey , howard l . snell , and deborah m . finch 2009 . abundance and species richness of snakes along the middle rio grande riparian forest in new mexico . herp . cons . biol . 4 : 1 - get paper here
bentley , georgia h . 1919 . reptiles collected in the vicinity of current , nye county , nevada . copeia 1919 ( 75 ) : 87 - 91 - get paper here
berg , m . van den et al . 2013 . traumterrarien . reptilia ( münster ) 18 ( 100 ) : 16 - 27 - get paper here
bezy , robert l . and charles j . cole 2014 . amphibians and reptiles of the madrean archipelago of arizona and new mexico . american museum novitates ( 3810 ) : 1 - 24 - get paper here
blainville , henri marie ducrotay de 1835 . description de quelques espèces de reptiles de la californie précédée de l’analyse d’un système général d’erpétologie et d’amphibiologie . nouv . ann . mus . hist . nat . paris 4 : 233 - 296 - get paper here
bogosian , victor ; eric c . hellgren , and raymond w . moody 2012 . assemblages of amphibians , reptiles , and mammals on an urban military base in oklahoma . southwestern naturalist 57 ( 3 ) : 277 - 284 . - get paper here
brady , maurice 1927 . notes on the reptiles and amphibians of the dismal swamp . copeia 1927 ( 162 ) : 26 - 29 - get paper here
burt , charles e . 1933 . a contribution to the herpetology of kentucky . american midland naturalist 14 ( 6 ) : 669 - 679 - get paper here
burt , charles e . 1935 . further records of the ecology and distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the middle west . american midland naturalist 16 ( 3 ) : 311 - 336 - get paper here
christman , s . p . 1980 . patterns of geographic variation in florida snakes . bulletin of the florida state museum of biological sciences 25 ( 3 ) : 1 ( 157 ? ) - 256 - get paper here
collins , j . t . & collins , s . l . 2009 . a pocket guide to kansas snakes , 2nd ed . great plains nature center , wichita , 69 pp .
collins , j . t . & collins , s . l . 2010 . a pocket guide to kansas snakes , 3rd ed . great plains nature center , wichita , 69 pp .
conant , roger 1938 . the reptiles of ohio . american midland naturalist 20 ( 1 ) : 1 - 200 - get paper here
conant , r . & collins , j . t . 1991 . a field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern / central north america , 3rd ed . houghton mifflin ( boston / new york ) , xx + 450 p .
cope , e . d . 1860 . catalogue of the colubridae in the museum of the academy of natural sciences of philadelphia , with notes and descriptions of new species . part ii . proc . acad . nat . sci . philadelphia 12 : 241 - 266 - get paper here
cope , e . d . 1875 . the herpetology of florida . proc . acad . nat . sci . philadelphia 1875 : 10 - 11 - get paper here
cope , e . d . 1892 . the batrachia and reptilia of north west texas . proc . acad . nat . sci . philadelphia 1892 : 331 - 337 - get paper here
corrington , julian d . 1927 . field note on some amphibians and reptiles at biloxi , mississippi . copeia 1927 ( 165 ) : 98 - 102 - get paper here
corrington , julian d . 1929 . herpetology of the columbia , south carolina , region . copeia 1929 ( 172 ) : 58 - 83 - get paper here
crother , b . i . 2000 . scientific and standard english names of amphibians and reptiles of north america north of mexico , with comments regarding confidence in our understanding . herpetological circular 29 : 1 - 82
crother , b . i . ( ed . ) 2012 . standard common and current scientific names for north american amphibians , turtles , reptiles , and crocodilians , seventh edition . herpetological circular 39 : 1 - 92
degenhardt , william g . ; c . w . painter , and a . h . price 1996 . amphibians and reptiles of new mexico . univ . new mexico press , 431 pp .
duméril , a . m . c . , and g . bibron . 1835 . erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles , vol . 2 . librairie encyclopédique de roret , paris , iv + 680 p . - get paper here
enge , kevin m . 2009 . venomous and non - venomous snakes of florida . publication of the florida fish & wildlife conservation commission . 16 pp .
ernst , c . h . , & barbour , r . w . 1989 . snakes of eastern north america . george mason univ . press , fairfax , va 282 pp .
fitch , h . s . 1936 . amphibians and reptiles of the rouge river basin , oregon . american midland naturalist 17 : 634 - 652 - get paper here
flesch , aaron d . ; don e . swann , dale s . turner , and brian f . powell 2010 . herpetofauna of the rincon mountains , arizona . southwestern naturalist 55 ( 2 ) : 240–253 - get paper here
gilbert , carter r . 1974 . catalogue of type specimens in the department of natural sciences , florida state museum . bulletin of the florida state museum biological sciences 18 ( 2 ) : 102 - 120 - get paper here
green , n . b . , & pauley , t . k . 1987 . amphibians and reptiles in west virginia . univ . of pittsburgh press , pittsburgh , 241 pp .
grismer , l . lee . 1999 . an evolutionary classification of reptiles on islands in the gulf of california , méxico . herpetologica 55 ( 4 ) : 446 - 469 - get paper here
hallmen , m . 2005 . farb - und zeichnungszuchten in der terraristik . reptilia ( münster ) 10 ( 55 ) : 16 - 22 - get paper here
hallmen , m . 2006 . selective breeding for color and pattern . reptilia ( gb ) ( 44 ) : 12 - 18 - get paper here
howze , jennifer m . and lora l . smith 2012 . factors influencing eastern kingsnake diel activity . copeia 2012 ( 3 ) : 460 - 464 . - get paper here
hudson , bryan d . , zach i . felix , justin oguni , brad wilson , kira mcentire , theresa stratmann , daniel d . duff and zack seymour . 2015 . new geographic distributional records of amphbians and reptiles in georgia , usa . herpetological review 46 ( 4 ) : 595 - 596
irwin , kelly j . 2004 . arkansas snake guide . arkansas game & fish commission , little rock , 50 pp .
jan , g . 1865 . iconographie générale des ophidiens . 12 . livraison . j . b . bailière et fils , paris - get paper here
jan , g . 1865 . iconographie générale des ophidiens . 14 . livraison . [ elapomorphus d’orbignyi , coronella getulus var . sayi ] . j . b . bailière et fils , paris - get paper here
jensen , john b . ; carlos d . camp , whit gibbons , & matt j . elliott 2008 . amphibians and reptiles of georgia . university of georgia press , 575 pp .
kaiser , h . ; crother , b . i . ; kelly , c . m . r . ; luiselli , l . ; o’shea , m . ; ota , h . ; passos , p . ; schleip , w . d . & wüster , w . 2013 . best practices : in the 21st century , taxonomic decisions in herpetology are acceptable only when supported by a body of evidence and published via peer - review . herpetological review 44 ( 1 ) : 8 - 23
klauber , laurence m . 1938 . notes from a herpetological diary , i . copeia 1938 ( 4 ) : 191 - 197 - get paper here
kreutz , r . 2005 . farb - und zeichnungsstandard der kornnatter ( panterhophis guttatus ) . kirschner und seufer verlag , keltern - weiler , 158 pp .
lemos - espinal ja , smith gr 2016 . amphibians and reptiles of the state of coahuila , mexico , with comparison with adjoining states . zookeys 593 : 117 - 137 , doi : 10 . 3897 / zookeys . 593 . 8484 - get paper here
linné , c . von [ = linnaeus , c . ] 1766 . systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ , secundum classes , ordines , genera , species , cum characteribus , differentiis , synonymis , locis . tomus i . editio duodecima , reformata . laurentii salvii , stockholm , holmiae . 1 - 532 pp . - get paper here
linzey , d . w . , & clifford , m . j . 1981 . snakes of virgina . univ . press of virginia , charlottesville 159 pp .
lönnberg , einar 1894 . notes on reptiles and batrachians collected in florida in 1892 and 1893 . proc . us natl . mus . 17 ( 1003 ) : 317 - 339 - get paper here
mitchell , j . c . & reay , k . k . 1999 . atlas of amphibians and reptiles in virginia . specialty publication 1 , va dept of game and fisheries , 122 pp . - get paper here
mitchell , j . c . 1994 . the reptiles of virginia . virginia department of game and inland fisheries , ca . 350 pp .
murphy , r . w . ; ottley , j . r . 1984 . distribution of amphibians and reptiles on islands in the gulf of california . annals of the carnegie museum 53 ( 8 ) : 207 - 230 - get paper here
nevárez - de los reyes ; manuel , david lazcano , javier banda - leal and ian recchio 2014 . notes on mexican herpetofauna 22 : herpetofauna of the continental portion of themunicipality of hermosillo , sonora , mexico . bull . chicago herp . soc . 49 ( 8 ) : 105 - 115 - get paper here
palmer , w . m . & braswell , a . l . 1995 . reptiles of north carolina . univ . north carolina press
rochester , carlton j . ; cheryl s . brehme , denise r . clark , drew c . stokes , stacie a . hathaway , and robert n . fisher 2010 . reptile and amphibian responses to large - scale wildfires in southern california . journal of herpetology 44 ( 3 ) : 333–351 - get paper here
saviola , anthony j . ; valerie j . mckenzie , david chiszar 2012 . chemosensory responses to chemical and visual stimuli in five species of colubrid snakes . acta herpetologica 7 ( 1 ) : 91 - 103 - get paper here
schmidt , d . 2005 . eine kettennatter als vegetarierin . reptilia ( münster ) 10 ( 51 ) : 8 - 9 - get paper here
skubowius , b . 2010 . new jersey – mit „fieldherpern“ und „pineys“ auf der suche nach der nördlichen kiefernnatter ( pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus ) . reptilia ( münster ) 15 ( 84 ) : 52 - 60 - get paper here
smith , m . a . 1928 . the status of some recently described genera and species of snakes . ann . mag . nat . hist . ( 10 ) 1 : 494 - 496
snyder , richard c . 1945 . notes on the snakes of southeastern alabama . copeia 1945 ( 3 ) : 173 - 174 - get paper here
stebbins , r . c . 1985 . a field guide to western reptiles and amphibians , 2nd ed . houghton mifflin , boston
stejneger , l . 1902 . the reptiles of the huachuca mountains , arizona . proc . us natl . mus . 25 [ 1902 ] : 149 - 158 - get paper here
tanner , vasco m . 1927 . distributional list of the amphibians and reptiles of utah . copeia 1927 ( 163 ) : 54 - 58 - get paper here
tanner , wilmer w . 1958 . herpetological range extensions . herpetologica 14 : 195 - 196 - get paper here
taylor , edward h . 1952 . third contribution of the herpetology of the mexican state of san luis potosí . univ . kansas sci . bull . 34 ( 13 ) : 793 - 815 - get paper here
tennant , a . 2003 . snakes of north america - eastern and central regions , revised edition . lone star books , 605 pp .
tennant , a . & bartlett , r . d . 2000 . snakes of north america - eastern and central regions . gulf publishing , houston , tx , 588 pp .
terrell , vanessa c . , jaimie l . klemish , nathan j . engbecht , john a . may , peter j . lannoo , rochelle m . stiles , and michael j . lannoo . 2014 . amphibian and reptile colonization of reclaimed coal spoil grasslands . the journal of north american herpetology 2014 ( 1 ) : 59 - 68 - get paper here
thornton , okla w . , jr . ; smith , jerry r . 1993 . new county records of amphibians and reptiles from west - central texas . herpetological review 24 ( 1 ) : 35 - 36 - get paper here
van denburgh , j . ; slevin , j . r . 1921 . preliminary diagnoses of more new species of reptiles from islands in the gulf of california , mexico . proc . cal . acad . sci . ( 4 ) 11 ( 17 ) : 395 - 398 - get paper here
voris , h . k . , d . r . karns , k . a . feldheim , b . kechavarzi , and m . rinehart . 2008 . multiple paternity in the oriental - australian rear - fanged watersnakes ( homalopsidae ) . herp . cons . biol . 3 : 88 - 102 - get paper here
wallach , van ; kenneth l . williams , jeff boundy 2014 . snakes of the world : a catalogue of living and extinct species . taylor and francis , crc press , 1237 pp .
wallach , v . 1988 . status and redescription of the genus padangia werner , with comparative visceral data on collorhabdium smedley and other genera ( serpentes : colubridae ) . amphibia - reptilia 9 : 61 - 76 - get paper here
werner , f . 1924 . neue oder wenig bekannte schlangen aus dem naturhistorischen staatsmuseum in wien . l . teil . sitzungsb . ber . akad . wiss . , wien , abt . l , 133 : 29 - 56 - get paper here
wilgers , d . j . ; horne , e . a . ; sandercock , b . k . & volkmann , a . w . 2006 . effects of rangeland management on community dynamics of the herpetofauna of the tall - grass prairie [ flint hills , kansas / oklahoma ] . herpetologica 62 ( 4 ) : 378 - 388 - get paper here
woodbury , angus munn 1928 . the reptiles of zion national park . copeia 1928 ( 166 ) : 14 - 21 - get paper here
yarrow , h . c . 1882 . description of new species of reptiles and amphibians in the us national museum . proc . us natl . mus . 5 : 438 - 443 - get paper here
younas , saqib ; shafiullah gul , hameed ur rehman , faisal junaid , wali muhammad achakzai , shagufta saddozai , khalid usman and zawar ahmad 2017 . zoological fauna of khurum dam and muhabbat khel dam of district karak , khyber pakhtunkhwa , pakistan journal of entomology and zoology studies 2017 ; 5 ( 1 ) : 380 - 387 - get paper here
this database is maintained by peter uetz ( database content ) and jakob hallermann , zoological museum hamburg ( new species and updates ) .
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hammerson , g . a . , frost , d . r . & santos - barrera , g .
justification : listed as least concern in view of the large and probably relatively stable extent of occurrence , area of occupancy , number of subpopulations , and population size . this species is not threatened across most of its range .
this species ' range extends from the pacific to the atlantic coast of north america , from southwestern oregon , nevada , southern utah , southern colorado , southeastern nebraska , southern iowa , illinois , southern indiana , southern ohio , west virginia , and new jersey in the united states , south to southern baja california , northern sinaloa , san luis potosi , tamaulipas , texas , the u . s . gulf coast , and southern florida , at elevations from sea level to around 2 , 130 m asl ( 7 , 000 feet ) ( conant and collins 1991 , stebbins 2003 ) .
this species is represented by hundreds of occurrences or subpopulations . the total adult population size is unknown but certainly exceeds 100 , 000 and probably exceeds 1 , 000 , 000 . its extent of occurrence , area of occupancy , number of subpopulations , and population size are probably relatively stable .
the species ' habitats vary geographically and include open coniferous forest , woodland , swamps , coastal marshes , river bottoms , farmland , prairie , chaparral , and desert . this snake is primarily terrestrial . periods of inactivity are spent in crevices or burrow , or under rocks , logs , stumps , vegetation , or other cover .
no major threats have been identified . local declines probably have occurred in areas where habitat has been intensively developed for human uses , but in most of the range this species is not threatened .
many occurrences of this species are in national parks and other well - protected areas .
hammerson , g . a . , frost , d . r . & santos - barrera , g . 2007 .
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though now recognized by herpetologists as merely a color morph of the florida king snake , the brooks ' king is a still a favorite among herpetoculturists because of its light coloration . adult brooks ' kings have yellowish or white cross bands on a yellow and black speckled background .
the nicest adults are so heavily speckled in yellow that the background color is not apparent . the babies start out looking much different . they have yellow bands on a dark brown or black background . many babies have red coloration in the bands , though this is usually lost with age . our stock descends from animals that we collected ourselves in southern miami - dade county , fl .
anthony flanagan inspects the edge of a path near a canal edge . king snakes are now rarely seen at this locale , though burmese pythons are common .


deltophalonia termasia is a species of moth of the tortricidae family .

it is found in ecuador in the provinces of napo and tungurahua .

the wingspan is about 26 mm .

the ground colour of the forewings is brownish grey in the posterior third of the wing with browner suffusions and indistinct fascia .

the ground colour is browner in the remaining areas .

the hindwings are creamish , densely strigulated ( finely streaked ) with brownish grey and suffused with the same colour apically .

deltophalonia termasia

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the kuhli loach ( pangio kuhlii ) is a small eel-like freshwater fish belonging to the loach family ( cobitidae ) .

this snake-like creature is very slender and nocturnal .

in an aquarium , the kuhli loach can be very reclusive and , when startled , will dart underneath tank ornaments or bury itself , if a fine gravel or sandy substrate is present .

kuhli loach

kuhli loach care guide : how to care , tank mates , gender , feeding and breeding kuhli loaches . kuhli loach ( also known as coolie loach ) in a community tank קולי לוץ
the kuhli loach is readily available at pet stores and online , and is moderately priced .
we find these kuhli loach fish in sumatra , southeast asia , western malaysia , singapore , thailand , borneo and java . we don’t find this variety in the iucn red list . they are also known by several other names , such as coolie loach , prickly eye , cinnamon loach , leopard loach and giant coolie loach .
there are two different colour variations of kuhli loach . the more widely pictured , but much less common
banded
kuhli loach , as well as the highly common
black
kuhli loach . the latter ' s colours may range from dark burgundy to a darker shade of tan . albino versions are occasionally seen in shops .
this little fish was originally named and is best known as the kuhli loach or prickly eye , but there are quite a few other common names often associated with this fish . for example , in the united states this loach is sometimes also called the coolie loach , giant coolie loach , leopard loach , and cinnamon loach . coolie loaches are exported by the millions for the aquarium hobby .
their is also an albino color form of this loach , known as the albino kuhli loach . this a bred color form , and it is not certain whether the albino kuhli loach occurs naturally in the wild . but these would be highly visible animals , so beacons for predation .
: the kuhli loach lives in great masses around plant cushions of muddy rivers . southeast asia ; borneo , java ,
the kuhli loach ( pangio kuhlii ) is small eel shaped fish that is found throughout indonesia and malaysia . while it superficially resembles an eel , it is actually part of the large and varied loach family . there are nearly a dozen species of fish that are sold under the name kuhli loach , but the species pangio kuhli is the most commonly available for sale .
kuhli loaches ( pangio kuhlii , earlier named as acanthophthalmus kuhlii ) also named as coolie loach , leopard loach is a peaceful ground fish which is more active in the evening and at night .
here is a my kuhli loach fish . he is a very lovely fish . the kuhli loach is a small eel - like freshwater fish belonging to the loach family . they originate from indonesia and the malay peninsula . this snake - like creature is very slender and nocturnal . thanks for watching and do not forget subscribe !
in nature , kuhli loaches are social , though they do not form tight schools . while they can live by themselves , the kuhli loach would much rather shoal with members of their own species .
this stripy species springs to many minds as the ‘kuhli loach’ and this is the most likely fish to be mislabelled as p . kuhlii .
p . anguillaris is recognised as the eel ‘kuhli’ loach , being recorded from cambodia , indonesia , laos , malaysia , thailand and vietnam .
most of the time the kuhli loach are seen swimming at the base of the tank ; however , at night , they swim everywhere in the tank . the kuhli loach need pristine water , so do not put these kuhli loaches in an arrangement which is biologically not developed . they are adjustable to an aquarium of average size ( best nearly 20 gallons ) . where the water is a bit acidic , and with passive lighting the kuhli loach requires good water currents for generating sufficient oxygen .
a kuhli loach ( pangio kuhlii ) is a small worm - like freshwater fish belonging to the loach family ( cobitidae ) . the fish is also commonly called coolie loach , giant coolie loach , striped loach , and leopard loach . originating in indonesia and the malay peninsula , it is commonly kept as a pet in tropical aquaria . they have an orange body , about 4 in ( 10 cm ) long , with 6 to 10 often irregular dark bands along the length and some barbels about their mouth .
this is a popular ‘un - banded’ species that’s often sold under the ‘black kuhli loach’ name and in certain older literature was known as p . javanicus .
common name : kuhli loach scientific name : pangio semicincta wild origin : malaysia maximum size : 9cm – 10cm , 3 . 55 inches – 3 . 95 inches
genus ) that are much like the actual kuhli loach . these loaches all have the elongated wormlike body shape , are fairly similar in size and appearance , and are also wiggly little scavengers who make great aquarium cleaners . each of these fish however , can be distinguished from the kuhli loach by their individual color patterns and adult size .
kuhli loach habitat ( acanthophthalmus kuhlii ) is in south - west asia and india . the fish also inhabits in sumatra , singapore , malaysia , java and borneo islands .
sorry , i was actually just looking and found out that there are multiple species of pangio sp . that are marketed as kuhli loach or other misnomers . will edit !
was described by valenciennes in 1846 . they are found in southeast asia ; sumatra , singapore , western malaysia , java , borneo , and thailand . this species is not listed on the iucn red list . other common names they are known by include prickly eye , coolie loach , giant coolie loach , cinnamon loach , and leopard loach .
most stripy so - called ‘kuhli loaches’ in the trade have actually been p . semicincta .
just wanted to mention that the black kuhli is actually a separate species , pangio oblonga .
the kuhli loach , also commonly known as coolie loach , comes from the tropical waters of indonesia , malaysia , java and surrounding areas . the kuhli loach is eel shaped . its body colorings are a kind of salmon - pink / yellow with dark brown to black stripes that half circles the body . the stomach is a sort of a whitish colour . the eyes on the kuhli loach are set in one of the stripes and therefore not easily seen . the mouth is set at a downward angle and with 3 pairs of bushy barbels adorning it ; it looks like it has an obstinate little moustache . its fins are translucent .
the kuhli loach is usually nocturnal , only sneaking out during feeding time to eat food that falls to the substrate , then quickly returning to its lair . because of this , it is common to not see a kuhli loach for days or even weeks at a time . in aquaria with under - gravel filters , kuhli loaches may seek refuge under the filter plates . members of this species may also explore other types of filters and hide in the filter media .
the benefit of the kuhli loach over several of the other loach is that their growth is limited to a length of almost 8 to 11 cm . ( 3 to 5 in . ) . besides , their bioload ( amount of life existing in an aquarium ) is too tiny for a loach . the kulhi loach is capable of squeezing out through tiny openings , hence keep the tank always securely closed . they need a tank of at least 20 gallons ( 37 liters ) .
the yoyo loach ( botia almorhae ) , also known as the pakistani loach , is a small fresh water fish native to india and pakistan . the name yoyo loach originates from the fact that the marking on the fishes side resemble the word “yoyo” , although this becomes more difficult to see as the fish ages .
the kuhli loach is a smaller , worm - like loach that can reach from 3 - 4 1 / 2 inches ( 7 . 8 - 12 cm ) in length , though generally a bit smaller in the aquarium . their life span is generally about 10 years , though they been reported to live even longer .
kuhli loach care : tank parameters required : ph – 3 . 5 - 7 . 0 gh – 3 - 8 kh – 1 - 3 tds – 50 - 160 temperature – 21 - 26c or 70 - 79f
the kuhli loach dwells in mountain streams among a litter of leaves and sandy locations where the rivers move slowly . their habitats are in general remote from the sun due to the canopy of the forest . in the wild , the khuli loach is seen in tiny groups , but they do not belong to the schooling fish variety .
yes - best kept in groups of 6 or more , if kept singly a kuhli will seldom be seen .
with the added swimming area , we plumped for a streambed tank with extra inhabitants . kuhli loach are handsome but shy , and even a dozen or so in this tank could prove hard to spot . give them too many hiding spaces and you’ll never see them . don’t give them enough and they’ll never become confident enough to show as much as a whisker . many a tank has ‘lost’ its kuhli loach for years at a time , only found again when the tank is eventually stripped . kuhli loach are malaysian fish , so we wanted a tank with plants from that part of the world . that meant two easy targets appeared straight away — cryptocoryne and java fern .
75 gallon planted aquarium - red tail shark , rainbow shark , clown loach , red tail loaches , etc .
and finally , kuhli loachs probably won’t mix very well with drawf frogs . you’ll probably end up with a lot of very confused frogs trying to fit a kulhli loach in their mouth , which will result in unhappy kuhli loachs . it may work , but i’ve seen those frogs try to eat just about anything they come in contact with .
the kuhli loach has an advantage over most of the other loaches kept in aquariums , inasmuch as it never grows too large , growing around 8 - 11 cm ( 3 - 5 in ) in length . also their bioload is very small for a loach . be sure to keep the tank covered properly at all times as it can squeeze out of quite small places . the minimum tank size required for the kuhli is 20 gallons ( 37 liters ) .
kuhli loaches are not a demanding fish , and will thrive in a well maintained 20 gallon tank . while many people attempt to keep them in smaller aquariums , a group of well fed kuhli loaches will quickly outgrow anything smaller than 20 gallons .
nice profile , well done ! just wanted to mention that the black kuhli is actually a separate species , pangio oblonga .
they are pretty notorious for hiding , but the aquarium is way too small for them . and do you know what killed your yoyo loach ? was it another loach ? it sounds like they would be better in 30 gallon if at all possible .
however even if further study reveals p . kuhlii to occur outside java it appears probable that it is not the common aquarium ‘kuhli / coolie’ loach which is more likely to be p . semicincta , one or more unidentified species , or a combination of these .
look closely and you’ll see not just danios in this set - up , but also kuhli loaches out and about in the open .
i would strongly recommend choosing an aquaclear power filter for a kuhli loach tank . this filter combines excellent filtration with a durable design , and it will keep your tank sparkling clear for years to come . you can also read the aquarium tidings aquaclear filter review here .
and kuhli loaches almost always eat after lights out , so just feed them just before the lights go out and they should be happy .
the natural habitat of the kuhli loach is the sandy beds of slow - moving rivers and clean mountain streams . they are a social fish and are typically found in small clusters ( they are not schooling fish but enjoy the company of their species ) , but are cautious and
i’m sorry to hear about your loach . are there any symptoms right now ? is the fish bloated or is there anything growing on him ?
kuhli loach tank should be moderately sized with soft ( 0 – 5 dgh ) , a little acidic water ( ph : 5 . 5 - 6 . 5 ) and moderately lighted . is a ground fish , so not the tank size is determining , but the square of its bottom .
help ! ! ! does anyone know how many babies a black kuhli loach has at a time ? i have two adults and now i have seen one little one………………… . i have read that this is rare in an aquarium . just wondering what to expect . i would appreciate any help any advice .
: often hides or buries itself during the day , coming out at night to feed . the kuhli loach is often very active in the morning and when the lights are turned on . if a fish is floating on surface it is a sign of heavy water pollutants . there are two sub - species
this is heavily built and sometimes referred to as the ‘giant kuhli loach’ . adults are easily recognisable by their sheer depth of body and wide black markings interspaced by thin yellow / orange bars . the caudal fin is usually completely black or with a black base blotch and a subterminal black bar or row of spots .
eel loaches comprise the 33 members of the genus pangio . small and elongated , they are frequently and inappropriately called kuhli loaches or , worse still , coolie loaches .
when i pulled my shrimp tank down i thought i had 1 or 2 kuhli but i found 5 big fat ones nothing like the little skinny ones i bought .
it is essential that the water turnover takes place at a minimum of 10 to 15 times an hour . a filter below the gravel is an option for generating good oxygen all over the aquarium and also for decreasing the waste . supplementing a power head or canister filter to the arrangement gives good current for the kuhli loach fishes .
this is another slender and elongate loach that can attain 12 . 5cm / 5” . it is known to inhabit the malay peninsula as well as sarawak , borneo .
this loach is a peaceful community fish and a great scavenger of uneaten foods that settle to the bottom of the aquarium . they hide during the day , but are quite lively and active in the evening . though they do not school , they will be more likely to come out of hiding if they are kept with some companions . a singly kept kuhli loach will seldom be seen . it is recommended that they be kept in small groups of at least 6 or more of its own kind .
this can be especially problematic when they are first introduced , and they are still on a nocturnal feeding schedule . while you should try to never overfeed your fish , a bit extra during the first few weeks will help keep the kuhli loaches fed . i have used hikari sinking wafers for kuhli loaches in the past with great success .
…vertical black bands , and the kuhli loach ( pangio kuhlii ) , a pinkish , eel - like species about 8 centimetres long , marked with many vertical black bands . other loaches include the stone ( nemachilus barbatula ) and spined loaches , both mottled , yellow and brown fishes about 13 centimetres long found in europe and northern asia . the…
hadiaty , r . k . and m . kottelat , 2009 - zootaxa 2171 : 65 - 68 pangio lidi , a new species of loach from eastern borneo , indonesia .
harry , r . r . , 1949 - proceedings of the biological society of washington v . 62 : 69 - 72 a new loach of the genus acanthophthalmus from siam .
steve hunt’s kuhli loach was in dire straits . the nano tank it had called home had been a present for steve’s daughter , but it was woefully small . a curve - fronted little all - in - one lump of barely 30l / 6 . 6 gal , it had become tired and grubby , hidden away in a corner , decrepit and embarrassing .
a group of dozen kuhli loaches will have more active behavior and it’ll be more close to their behavior in the wild , nevertheless acanthophthalmus can be also kept alone in a tank .
thanks keith for this helpful info . 25 years on and off on fishkeeping but ive never had a kuhli , ive seen them at pet stores but i didnt know theyre usefull .
: the kuhli loach has an eel - like shape . the dorsal fin is located far back on the body . the body coloring is orange to salmon with 15 - 20 wide transverse black bands that extend to the belly . the belly is light pink to white . four pairs of barbels extend from the mouth , and spines are located just below the eye .
the kuhli loach will swim mostly on the bottom of the aquarium , but at night these loaches will swim all over the tank . never introduce this loach into a biological immature setup as these fish require pristine water . this fish will do well in a medium sized aquarium ( ideally 20 gallons or so ) with soft , slightly acidic water and subdued lighting . they need good water movement that provides plenty of oxygenation . the tank water should turnover at least 10 - 15 times per hour . an undergravel filter is a great choice for these fish as it creates high oxygen through out the tank as well as reducing the waste . adding a canister filter or power head to the setup will make the proper current for this loach .
i think we’ve all been there with the ‘faking’ yoyo loaches . one time , i was getting ready to scoop a yoyo loach out , when it leapt up and swam away . lol
yes kuhli loaches are very social creatures and they love to interact with eachother . kuhli loaches do better if they are in a minimum group of five or they will usually go into hiding and might even go into permanent hiding . i would suggest that you get two more , but you have to have at least a 10 gallon tank or they will be crowded . and one more thing your kuhli loaches might also be hiding because you might have an aggresive fish in your tank . i hoped i helped you , and good luck with your loaches ! ! !
although they have been bred successfully in the aquarium , not much is known about the breeding habits of the kuhli loach . they scatter bright green adhesive eggs underneath floating plants where the eggs then attach to the stems and roots . the eggs have been described by herbert axelrod as a type of bubble nest , with each egg enclosed in a bubble . they are not yet bred commercially .
the slim shape of eel loaches set them apart from all others of the loach fraternity . they also differ by having a relatively high number of vertebrae and the dorsal fin is behind the pelvic fin .
my yoyo loach rules my cichlids tank , they all move out of the way when he’s going somewhere , it sounds like mine is completely the opposite of the norm , he’s very brave and active .
this species is traded on a regular basis and is also known as ‘myer’s loach’ . in recent years albino and leucistic forms have become available although it’s unclear if these are naturally - occurring or not .
care : all kuhli loaches require mature aquaria and should not be considered for newly set up tanks . a soft sandy substrate should be provided with lots of shady hiding places amongst bogwood and plants . as with other species of kuhli loach , these fish are best maintained in groups of three or more . however , given the rarity of this particular species and the fact they have only shown up in other fish shipments as ' contaminants ' , it may not be easy to source that many specimens . in such cases , it would be wise to provide them with company of similar species , such as p . oblonga .
the coolie loach is a bottom - dwelling fish that enjoys burrowing in sand and exploring hiding places in your tank . get to know this intriguing freshwater fish with its eel - like shape and fascinating habits .
this loach has a chance of warding off predators with its bright complexion . unfortunately , for a hungry dragon , it ' s nothing more than a colorful wet noodle . ( special thanks to ciar ! )
this cute little kuhli loach is quite easy to manage at homes in aquariums . it requires water of medium soft quality , with a ph of medium quality almost 6 to 7 . even then it accommodates water of almost all qualities . its position in the water is at the base , it is here that it searches for food . it needs a temperature in the range of 75 to 85°f ( 24 to 29°c )
that’s the great thing about fish – they all have different personalities . it sounds like you have a happy and healthy loach , so keep up the good work ( though he’d probably appreciate a few friends ) .
there are no specific common diseases that can affect the kuhli loach . it may get affected by any disease or if you do every thing correctly , it will not get any disease at all . like other scale less fish , it is affected a lot from medications that treat diseases like ich , so with a scale less fish , the best thing to do is just increase the temperature . the tank water should be kept clean at all times . that way it lessens any chance of poor health and enables your fish to stay strong and healthy . the life span of kuhli loaches is approximately 10 years , but longer has been recorded .
i have 3 kuhli loaches which i purchased about a month ago , they were riddled with white spot but i treated them straight away an look great now , my tanks . . . ( more ) danie x harrison
in the wild , kuhli loaches tend to inhabit slow flowing streams and rivers with soft , muddy bottoms . while they are not a traditional schooling fish , they naturally form into large groups with regular and playful interactions .
many hobbyists have a kuhli loach ( pangio kuhlii ) or two in their tanks . the long , almost snake - like body , and combination of orange - yellow and black bands make kuhlis an interesting addition to any community tank . their peaceful disposition , coupled with their ability to wiggle into every nook and cranny in search of food , make them an excellent choice . however , many hobbyists complain that they rarely see their pets .
my little illusive khuli loach which i only see once in a blue moon : ) he lived in the juwel filter but he moved house when i filled the tank with bogwood so now he lives under the bogwood somewhere .
originating from southeast asia , the coolie loach is indigenous to the streams of borneo , java , western malaysia , singapore , sumatra , and thailand . originally described as cobitis kuhlii , it was later named acanthophthalmus kuhlii , from the word acanthophthalmus that means
thorn eye ,
a reference to the spines located beneath the eyes of the coolie loach . the current scientific name is pangio kuhlii , however , many references still utilize the former scientific names .
since they are omnivorous , the kuhli loach will generally eat all kinds of small live and frozen foods and meat based foods are relished the most . they also like sinking pelleted and tablet foods , flakes , and a bit of vegetable foods such as algae wafers . to keep a good balance give them a high quality prepared food everyday . feed tubifex worms , brine shrimp ( either live or frozen ) , mosquito larvae , and daphnia as a treat .
the most important thing for these loaches is that they always have clean and well - oxygenated water . frequent water changes of about 30 % a week are needed for the kuhli loach . with your weekly water change make sure to vacuum the gravel to remove all excess food and waste , but it ' s best not to remove any bio film on rocks and decor . a magnet algae cleaner normally does a great job in keeping the viewing pane clear .
this loach can be hardy under the right conditions . they are not recommended for beginners because of their need for pristine water and having small body scales and no scales on the head . reduced scales makes them more prone to disease and very sensitive to medications used to treat disease . experience in treating scaleless fish is very important to be able to give your loach a healthy and long life . do not try to introduce these fish into biologically immature tanks .
as for the choice of fish , your tank should be large enough for yoyo loaches . but catfish would also work just as well , and you wouldn’t be pushing the limits like you would be with a full yoyo loach .
kuhli loaches are mostly bred in their native areas as they are very much available most of the time . breeding in the home aquarium can be difficult . the eggs are stuck to roots , buried beneath the surface of the substrate . females are plumper when ready to breed . this is the only way to identify the sexes . most breeding is done accidentally when many kuhli loaches are put in a tank together and they breed by themselves . if you want to try and breed them , the best way is to get a bunch of them in a tank with an undergravel filter . leave the kuhli loaches by themselves without any other fish for a few weeks , while still doing regular maintenance .
britz , r . and m . kottelat , 2010 - ichthyological exploration of freshwaters 20 ( 4 ) : 317 - 376 pangio longimanus , a miniature species of eel - loach from central laos ( teleostei : cypriniformes : cobitidae ) .
breeding the kuhli loach can be difficult in the home aquarium . the eggs buried beneath the surface and stuck to plant roots . most breeding is done by accident when many coolies are put into a tank and they mate by themselves . the best way to breed them is to get a bunch of them and get a tank with an under gravel filter and leave only coolies in the tank and leave it alone for a few weeks , while still doing the regular maintenance .
the fish likes clean and well aerated water , and frequents water renews . it’s necessary to siphonate the bottom while changing the water to remove the litter , since loach fish as a ground one suffers the most from ammonia and nitrates on the bottom .
: an excellent community fish that can be combined with small to medium sized species . it hides during the day but comes out at feeding times , and during the evening . do not combine with fish that might try and swallow this slender loach .
i am very concerned . i purchased a yoyo loach the other day specifically because i was told they stay small and it was in to put in my 10 gallon tank . this was by the aquarium employee . i’m not sure what to do ?
though peaceful , the kuhli loach is nocturnal and is most active at night . they can also be quite shy and will seldom be seen if kept alone . this doesn ' t mean they are a schooling fish , as they are not , but they are more comfortable and more likely to come out of hiding if they have some companions . a group of a half dozen or so will make them more prone to behave as they would in nature . they are quite hardy and can live for several years .
acanthophthalmus kuhlii is a small striped loach that will grow to be about 8 - 12 cm ( 4 - 5 in ) long , however in a tank it won’t be longer than 8 cm . lifespan is about 10 years , although it may be longer .
the natural habitat of the kuhli loach is the sandy beds of slow - moving rivers and clean mountain streams . they are a social fish and are typically found in small schools , but are cautious and nocturnal by nature and swim near the bottom where they feed or around obstacles . they natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 5 . 5 - 6 . 5 ph , a water hardness of 5 . 0 dgh , and a temperature range of 75 - 86 °f ( 24 - 30 °c ) .
it is difficult to breed these kuhli loach fishes at homes in the aquariums . the eggs get buried underneath the root surface where they get stuck up . the breeding , mostly are not planned . when several coolies are gathered in the tank , mating sometimes takes place naturally . the ideal way of breeding them is putting a group of them in the aquarium having a filter , under gravel and let only the coolies in the tank on their own for a period of some weeks , and continue to regularly maintain the aquarium .
breeding the kuhli loach is a challenge that requires work and patience . it’s not something that hobbyists can do without really putting their minds to it . kuhli loaches are always in demand . once they reach about 2 inches , they are of salable size . often , you can trade with other hobbyists in your local fish club . provided that you maintain a good relationship with the owner of your local fish store , he or she should be happy to take the extra babies off your hands in exchange for fish food or supplies . a few might even buy them outright , but don’t expect to get rich . be happy if you can cover fish food costs , and enjoy your hobby . at the very least , you’ll be able to brag to your “fishy” friends that you met the challenge !
i would strongly recommend choosing an aquaclear power filter for a yoyo loach tank . this filter combines excellent filtration with a durable design , and it will keep your tank sparkling clear for years to come . you can also read the aquarium tidings aquaclear filter review here .
alternative decor the rounded rocks we used could easily be replaced by large flint cobbles . i’d be wary of using one of the large ‘resin type’ fake stones in this role , as these are hollow and you’ll soon have more kuhli loaches inside it than out of it .
pangio species are often generically referred to as ‘kuhli’ or ‘coolie’ loaches in the aquarium hobby , the latter a variation of the former which was itself derived from the surname of german naturalist heinrich kuhl ( 1797 - 1821 ) . ichthyologists tend to refer to them as ‘eel loaches’ .
, and a temperature range of 75 – 86 °f ( 24 – 30 °c ) . kuhli loaches are scavengers , so they will eat anything that reaches the bottom . they usually feed at night , but can be taught to feed in the day in the home aquarium .
an outbreak of disease can often be limited to just one or a few fishes if you deal with it at an early stage . when keeping these sensitive types of fish , it is common to catch deteriorating water conditions and disease before other fish are affected . the best way to proactively prevent disease is to give your kuhli loach the proper environment and give them a well balanced diet . the closer to their natural habitat the less stress the fish will have , making them healthier and happy . a stressed fish will is more likely to acquire disease .
hello , i have a yoyo loach problem . i have 2 of them and they were completely happy and playing 2gether , then i had an ich problem with some neons . i used half dosage bc of the loaches the ich was gone but one of the neons died and i saw a loach eating him . then all of a sudden my one loach had a red mouth almost like lipstick . went to lfs did a water sample and they said nothing to be concerned about . they then told me to get melafix the redness has cleared up but the fish is sluggish , and constantly being chased by the other loach . i have not seen him eat and its been almost 2 weeks since i noticed he was not normal . seems as if some of his bristles are shorter then the other one . he def lays down a lot and i know he is not dead bc he keeps popping up and has gill movement . is he a goner or is there something else i can do to help him ? tank is 45 gal , multiple hiding caves , other fish are tetras and dwarf neon rainbows .
hi ! btw thanks for the email about new website . i have 3 kuhli loaches in my 26 gal tank . they rule . but recently i noticed one looked like it was missing its barbel whisker things . i have gravel that’s really dull with no sharp points that would cut them . i had a sandy area but my goldfish out gravel on it when i had pond snails a while ago to eat them . lesson learned - goldies in a planted tank are worse then mayasian trumpet snails ! ! will this be a problem ? ? they come out when the light is off and eat when i’m not there . well , they never eat when i’m looking at them and they don’t seem skinny and the food is gone later . i’m gonna replace the gravel with sand soon . what do you think about my kuhli loach missing his barbels ? ?
interestingly enough , the coolie loach possesses no lateral line . the fins are small , with the dorsal fin located on the lower third of the body , much closer to the tail than the head . quick moving , these loaches prefer to remain in the bottom levels of the tank where they rummage for morsels of food . they are social and prefer the company of others of their own kind . the coolie 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 fish is an “owl” therefore it’s activity can be observed during twilights and at night , it is always hiding . the fish can hardly be seen at day time , especially when it’s kept in a tank alone , however it’s not impossible , if one watches the fish for some time .
in 4 days they start swimming and feeding . loach fish juveniles can be fed with infusorians , rotifers , brine shrimp nauplii or tubifex cut in small pieces . in a month juveniles become about 1 cm long and become striped . acanthophthalmus becomes reproductive at the age of 8 - 12 month .
a total of 25 consignments , each containing different varieties and species of warm water ornamental fish , were sampled between february and april 2008 . fish species and associated carriage waters sampled included , guppies ( poecilia reticulata peters ) , threadfin rainbow ( iriatherina werneri meinken ) , celebes rainbow ( telmatherina ladigesi ahl ) , neon gold barb ( puntius semifasciolatus günther ) , harlequin rasbora ( trigonostigma heteromorpha duncker ) , neon tetra species ( paracheirodon innesi myers and hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi géry ) , red wag platy ( xiphophorus maculates ) , kuhli loach ( pangio kuhlii valenciennes ) and silver molly ( poecilia shenops ) .
small light green eggs stick to the plants leaves or fall on the tank bottom . one loach female can lay about 500 - 700 eggs . the fish parent should removed from the tank right after spawning . incubation time of the eggs lasts about 1 day , then small green ich fry appears .
coolie loaches have an eel - like body that is yellow to pink in color , with multiple dark brown bands or stripes that partially or fully encircle the body . the body and stripe color patterns vary based on species and / or subspecies . it is not unusual to purchase an incorrectly named loach .
they also prefer sand for substrate but if sand is not appropriate , smooth stones should be used so that the loach won ' t scratch its body on gravel or stones . sharp edged decorations also woud not be a good idea , with their habit of squeezing into tight places they could get badly scratched .
many fish can be kept as tank mates with the kuhli loach as long as precaution is taken not to include fish that are able to take them for a bite of food . in other words , don ' t keep fish that are big enough to eat them . they scavenge for food mainly at dusk or in the dark as they are nocturnal , and spend most of their time hiding in the substrate , plants and decorations during the day . but with time most of them readily learn to eat during the day time . being scavengers they eat most fish food , however sinking food pellets are preferred as well as live foods , for instance ; bloodworms and brineshrimp . it is recommended to feed them either , just before the lights are turned off for the night or after the lights have been off for a while . dont switch on the lights during the process it may scare the fish back into hiding . this is sometimes done with a flashlight when a curious hobbiest wants to see whats going on when its dark inside the tank , but never shine a flashlight into the tank after the lights have been off for a few hours ! it will put the other fish and maybe the kuhli loach into a state of shock !
this does happen with kuhli loaches , and it ' s often related to tank conditions and water changes . they need soft , slightly acidic water with good movement so that there is also plenty of oxygen . they always have to have very clean water , and it helps if each partial water change is relatively small .
as for sand , it really is the best substrate for these fish . it’s much gentler on their barbells , though you’ll probably be alright with store bought gravel as well ; store bought gravel is coated to give it soft edges , so while it’s not the preferred substrate for kuhli loachs , it will still work .
the kulhi loach is tiny as a worm that grows in a range of 3 to 4 ½ in . ( 7 , 8 to 12 cm . ) long . when in the aquarium , their length is a little smaller . they normally survive up to 10 years and there are reports of them living still longer .
i have 3 kuhli loaches which i purchased about a month ago , they were riddled with white spot but i treated them straight away an look great now , my tanks conditions is as good as i can get them and do regular water changes , well planted , with guppies and 2 bristlenose plecos plenty of hiding places .
it’s not optimal , but as a long as it’s the coated gravel you have in the store , your loaches should be fine . the rest of the setup sounds really good for them , and with kuhli loaches , it’s commonly to only rarely see them during the day . especially with a smaller group like you have .
i ' ve kuhli loaches loaches in my work tank and they are very cute . hardly see them though as they are nocturnal . comes out occasionally when plants are being trimmed or when food being fed . but i doubt they eat hair , brush , or staghorn algae . they defintely scavenge though . they do that all day .
kuhli loaches don’t reach sexual maturity until they are at least 12 to 18 months old . some sources even say they have to be over 2 years old before they are ready to breed for the first time . they spawn as pairs , but it’s best to get a group of adults , and let them pair off and select their own mate .
once that has been completed , the only thing to do is take a wait and see approach . no one seems to know the exact trigger that initiates kuhli loaches spawning . some people speculate that they need a gravel substrate , while others believe that temperature is the key . you can play around with these variables and hopefully something will trigger a successful spawning .
it’s extremely important that any filter used in a tank with kuhli loaches have a covered intake . they are notorious for swimming up uncovered filter intakes and becoming trapped in the filter . if they aren’t discovered quickly , they may be killed by the filter , or slowly starve to death . either way , it won’t be pretty and should be avoided at all costs .
kuhli loaches are peaceful fish and prefer to be kept in schools of 3 or more . because of this fishes beauty , many hobbiest get them straight after the nitrogen cycle has completed . it is , however , not advised to get them for the new aquarium as they are affected by sudden water changes . it is best recommended to wait a month before introducing them to the aquarium .
the eye of the coolie is covered by a thin layer of transparent skin and is hidden in one of the dark bands . below the eyes are a pair of sharp spines that rise if the fish is threatened , making it difficult for a predator to swallow them or for an owner to net them . the mouth of the coolie loach points downward and is surrounded by four pairs of barbels .
i have had two black kuhli loaches for a year and i noticed a month ago that they had babies ! ! ! ! not sure how many there are because they stay hid . does anyone know how many they have at a time ? i asked the pet store and they didn’t know . i saw one of the little ones today an its growing ! ! ! yea so happy ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
this rather pretty little loach is fairly easy to care for in the home aquarium , needing water that is medium - soft to medium and ph around 6 . 0 to 7 . 0 . it has been known , however , for them to adapt to most water conditions . its region in the tank is the bottom where it browses for food . the temperature should be 75 - 85 f ( 24 - 29 c ) .
thanks ! i was getting worried about my loach , i’m glad they will grow back . and i made a cave for my fish out of non - toxic air dry terra cotta clay . would you recommend a type of coating to make it safe for an aquarium ? ? i though terra cotta clay would be best because flower pots are made of terra cotta and they are usually put in aquariums . what do you think ?
kuhli loaches are really cool ! they love to dash around through the bubble wall , hang from the java ferns like christmas decorations and they are very easy to train to eat from your fingers . we love their unusual shape , their striking colours and most of all that they ' re such hyperactive , funny clowns ! ! they ' ll just dart around for hours and hours and hours , and then suddenly stop and rest .
most common disease that affects this loach is ich . ich is short for ichthyophthirius , also known as
white spot disease
. it is a parasite that can attack nearly all aquarium fishes , but you ' ll find that loaches are often the first to be attacked . take great care in treating ick as loaches are very sensitive to the medications used to treat it . often the dose is half of what is normally used .
hi robert . love your tips on keeping your loach fish happy . i have had a pair of loach , for two weeks now , they are lovely to watch . i am a little concerned about one of them , he’s hiding alot , but when they feed the two of them may seem to be dancing a round together up and down the tank . this morning i noticed one was on his side and moving his fins very fast , i helped him to lay on his tummy , he swam to the top of the tank , had a little swim then flouted to the bottom again . and now he’s been there for a while up right . i have fresh plants in my tank , rocks in my tank , but no caves . i am feeding them flakes also i have live snails in my tank . what else can i do to help them , water fine .
something else to keep in mind when setting up an aquarium for kuhli loaches , is that you can further reduce any stress by providing them with a soft substrate that they can burrow into . one of the more popular choices for substrate is play sand , which is attractive , clean and best of all – cheap . it’s far cheaper than any of the gravel offered in a fish stores ( most of which look like clown puke anyways ) .
pangio kuhlii is one of the two dozen species of kuhlis , a number of which closely resemble each other . pangio kuhlii sumatranus and pangio kuhlii myersi are subspecies that have been described based on differences in coloration and markings . p . sumatuanus ( also known as the sumatra kuhli ) has fewer and darker bands than pangio kuhlii . sporting even wider bands is pangio kuhlii myersi . pangio kuhlii remains the most popular and readily available of the coolie loaches .
i just purchased my first loach , i bought 3 . i only see 2 at any given time . i have a 20 gallon tank with small comminity fish . i have gravel , as i hate sand ( had it and couldnt stand it ) . will they ge ok with the gravel ? i have lots of real plants , a cave , driftwood , and tubes for hiding . im just worried about the gravel . any advice ? thanks !