Order Cypriniformes
Family Cobitidae
Subfamily Cobitinae
Genus Cobitis
— Spined Loach — Cobitis taenia (Linnaeus, 1758). Synonyms: Cobitis taenioides, spilura, Cobitinula anatoliae. (Eng. Spine, Spined Loach). Distributed in Europe and Asia. The spined loach inhabits quiet, shallow bays of rivers and lakes, and is found in shallow streams. 11 cm. The body is eel-like, slightly compressed laterally, with a slightly flattened head. It is covered with very small, tightly adhering scales. It owes its name to the sharp erectile spine it uses to defend itself against enemies. A folding sharp spine is clearly visible under each eye. There are four barbels on the lower lip and two at the corners of the mouth.
The coloration of the spined loach varies from light yellow to dark brown with a golden hue, the back being darker. A row of dark brown spots runs along the sides of the body, sometimes merging into a single wide stripe; the spots of the lower row are the largest. Above this stripe, there are many small brownish spots. The belly and throat are usually light cream-yellow. Small speckles form rows on the dorsal and caudal fins. At the base of the dorsal fin in its upper part, there is a black spot that looks very striking in reflected light. The male has a longer second ray on the pectoral fins, which is wider at its base.
Peaceful, nocturnal, and secretive fish. The spined loach becomes more active in the evening hours. This fish is a poor swimmer; in the aquarium, it prefers either to crawl along the bottom or lie on plants. It is best to keep spined loaches with catfish. It spends almost all its life at the bottom, rising to the water surface only for oxygen. The substrate should be sandy and thick enough for the loaches to burrow into. It burrows with eel-like movements, screwing itself headfirst and then sticking only its head out of the sand. You can observe it changing color to match the substrate—if it burrows into the ground, it is difficult to notice, only the movement of the gill covers gives away its location.
The fish sift the substrate through their mouths and gills in search of food. Sometimes it hangs, bent, among clumps of plants. Lighting is dim. These fish can be fed crustaceans, bloodworms, earthworms, and tubifex. Keep only in a cold-water aquarium, preferably young individuals or fry. Demanding on water purity and sufficient oxygen. The spined loach becomes sexually mature at 2-3 years of age, at a length of 5-6 cm. Females are capable of reproducing without males. They live up to 5 years. pH 7.0-7.7; T 17-20°C.
Genus Lepidocephalichthys
— Hasselt’s Loach — Lepidocephalichthys hasselti [Valenciennes, 1846]. Synonyms: Cobitis, Lepidocephalus hasselti, Cobitis octocirrhus. Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, commonly found in shallow waters, swamps, backwaters, and rice fields. Water bodies with dense vegetation or cluttered with roots, branches, and fallen leaves, with a substrate of soft sand or mud. Length 6-8 cm.
The overall body color is beige, with structured spots and speckles scattered over it, which often form rows of adjacent spots. A stripe consisting of spots runs along the lateral line. A relatively narrow caudal peduncle with a small black spot. Small speckles on the caudal fin. In the male, the dorsal fin is higher, and the pectoral fins are enlarged and thickened. Females are larger and longer.
Keep in a group of 3 or more individuals. A peaceful loach that likes plenty of hiding places with a soft base. Can be kept in a community aquarium with any peaceful species. To create shelters, arrange stones, driftwood, and branches, securing them well against undermining. Lighting is dim; they like shaded areas. The substrate is soft and sandy; they can completely burrow into the substrate, from where only their eyes peek out.
They love to dig in the substrate, and their excavation can disrupt decorative rocks, plants, and shelters. They sift the substrate through their gills, extracting insect larvae, small crustaceans, and other food. Avoid sharp stones and sand grains, as these fish have very delicate skin. The aquarium should have good filtration with a slight water movement from a powerhead. Eats all aquarium foods. pH 6.5-7.5; T 22-27°C; dH 2-10°.
— Peppered Loach — Lepidocephalichthys guntea [Hamilton, 1822]. Synonyms: Lepidocephalichthys balgara, dibruensis; Schistura aculeata. (Eng. Peppered Loach, Peppered Dojo Loach, Scavenger Loach). India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia. 10-15 cm, smaller in an aquarium. The body is elongated and cylindrical, with four pairs of barbels. This is a medium-sized loach with a rather grayish-yellow body color, paler on the belly. A light horizontal stripe runs from the nose to the base of the tail with rows of dark spots above and below this stripe. There are also numerous small dark spots on the dorsal and caudal fins. Adult females are generally larger and thicker than males.
Peaceful, suitable for keeping in groups of 4 or more individuals, in a community with other peaceful fish. Most active at night, hiding in shelters during the day. You need to create many hiding places using stones, tree roots, and branches where they can hide; decorations must be well secured so they cannot be shifted and dropped while digging. Plants should only be planted in pots since they dig burrows.
These fish can use their intestines as an additional respiratory organ and make rapid dashes to the surface for a gulp of atmospheric air. Some members of this species can survive difficult periods in damp sand or mud in the complete absence of water. The fish must be provided with a soft, sandy substrate; when frightened, they can quickly disappear into the sand, stirring up the substrate with their bodies. If the substrate is coarse, the fish can damage their delicate barbels and mouth while digging.
Lighting dimmed by floating plants. The water must be clean and well-oxygenated. Strong currents should be avoided. They feed by sifting the substrate through their gills, extracting insect larvae, small crustaceans, and other micro-food. In the aquarium, they eat all types of live and frozen foods, sinking granules, and tablets. They live about 8 years. pH 6.5-7.5; T 24-27°C.
Identification: Genus Lepidocephalichthys
Genus Serpenticobitis
— Serpenticobitis cingulata [Roberts, 1997]. Laos, Thailand, Mekong River basin, lives in fast-flowing rivers. 4 cm. They have 7-12 thin, dark incomplete stripes on a pale body. Peaceful, nocturnal, and secretive fish. Swim in the middle water layers.
Sandy substrate, as it likes to hide in the substrate headfirst. They sift sand through their gills, extracting microscopic food items. Lots of smooth rounded pebbles and numerous shelters. Lighting should be bright. An aquarium with a strong, oxygen-rich water flow; likes strong water circulation and aeration.
The water must be fresh, free of mechanical suspended solids, as well as nitrates and nitrites. Effective filtration and regular water changes are required. Dry food of appropriate size can be offered in the aquarium, but live and frozen foods—artemia, tubifex, bloodworms, and daphnia—must be included in the diet. Feeding them will improve the coloration and condition of the fish. pH 6.0-7.5; dH up to 12°; T 22-26°C.
Acantopsis choirorhynchos, Acantopsis octoactinotos.
Yasuhikotakia morleti, splendida. 
