Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Source)
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Otomorpha
Subcohors: Ostariophysi
Sectio: Otophysa
Ordo: Cypriniformes
Superfamilia: Cobitoidea
Familia: Cobitidae
Subfamilia: Cobitinae
Genera: Misgurnus
Species: M. anguillicaudatus
The pond loach, (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), is a freshwater fish in the loach family Cobitidae. They are native to East Asia but are also popular as an aquarium fish and introduced elsewhere in Asia and to Europe, America and Australia.[1][2] The alternate name weather loach is shared with several other Cobitidae, including the other members of the genus Misgurnus and the spotted weather loach (Cobitis taenia, commonly known as spined loach). This term comes from their ability to detect changes in barometric pressure and react with frantic swimming or standing on end. This is because before a storm the barometric pressure changes, and this is known to make these fish more active. The pond loach also comes in a variety of colors, such as pink, orange, albino and gray.
Description
Like many other loaches, pond loaches are slender and eel/snake-like. They can vary in colour from yellow to olive green, to a common light brown or grey with lighter undersides. The mouth of the loach is surrounded by three sets of barbels. It uses them to sift through silt or pebbles to find food. It also uses them to dig under gravel and sand to conceal itself out of nervousness or defence unlike the other loaches who use the spines beneath the eyes.
They can grow up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) long. The fish are bottom-dwelling scavengers, feeding mainly on organic material such as algae. Pond loaches are omnivorous and may also feed on tubifex worms and other small aquatic organisms. By producing a layer of mucus to keep themselves damp they can survive short periods of desiccation. They are very hardy fish that can live in poor quality water.
Physiology
Unlike most other fishes, the pond loach can burrow into and hide in soft substrates, breathe atmospheric air if necessary, and survive for long periods of time outside of the water.[3] For the pond loach to survive on land for extended periods of time, it has physiological adaptations to reduce toxic ammonia concentrations in the body and maintain homeostasis and normal functioning of tissues. When on land, the pond loach can suppress protein breakdown and catabolism (which avoids creating ammonia), switch to partial amino catabolism (which creates non-toxic alanine instead of ammonia), convert ammonia to non-toxic glutamine, and get rid of ammonia by excreting it as NH3 gas.[4][5] The pond loach is also relatively insensitive to ammonia, though it is not known how pond loach’s tissues, especially the heart and brain, are able to function at ammonia concentrations that would be lethal for other species. One hypothesis is that the pond loach may maintain normal brain cell functioning by altering the sensitivity and specificity of receptors in the brain for potassium ions, which otherwise would be overwhelmed by ammonia.[4]
In the aquarium
Orange Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Side view of a pink loach
Weather Loach (M. anguillicaudatus) Macro
Pond loaches are active, peaceful, and hardy fish that are sometimes used as starter fish in an aquarium. They can be "friendly" towards humans, allowing physical contact and hand feeding. They are extremely peaceful. They get along well with goldfish.
The loaches will be more active given more space and greater numbers. Solitary pond loaches tend to spend much of their time hiding. They will spend a lot of time hiding or staying still, but should be given a place to stay which will have cover and shade. Tank decorations that they can swim through and driftwood both work great for this. Due to their jumping ability the average cover should be secured with tape or other barriers. Also, they may even travel up tubes and take up residence in filters, so check there if your pond loach does not show up for roll call one day. Pond loaches enjoy digging and burrowing themselves in the substrate of their tank, so make sure that your substrate is fine enough for them to dig in. If you keep live plants in your tank, they will be uprooted by the loaches, so it is a good idea to weight your plants. The pond loach is also peculiar in that it will sometimes bury itself in the substrate during times of stress. This often surprises new owners, as the fish will "disappear" shortly after introduction to the tank only to "reappear" later.
Because of their appetite for snails, these loaches can help alleviate snail infestations in tropical fish tanks, though many have reported that while pond loaches do eat snails, they do not eat them at a fast enough rate to deal with an infestation.
The fish prefer a pH of 6.5-8.0 but will tolerate far more acidic conditions even for extended amounts of time with little negative reaction. This makes the pond loach a great choice for first-time aquariums and for those who want a hardy fish tank able to withstand a few mistakes. This fish should be kept in groups of at least three, as they like to be in physical contact with each other and feel each other with their barbels when they rest.
One trait which distinguishes the pond loach from most other tropical fish commonly seen at aquarium speciality shops and pet stores is the fact that they thrive at room temperature (68–72 °F [20–22 °C]) and can do well even at temperatures as low as the upper 50's °F (13-15 °C). The usual tropical temperature will result in a significantly reduced lifespan (from an average ten years to four or less). Purchasers often presume when buying tropical freshwater fish that all species will thrive in the (typical for home freshwater aquarium installations) 76–82 °F (24–28 °C) range; this presumption is incorrect in the case of the pond loach.
There are other varieties bred from captivity like the gold strain and the peppered strain (not to be confused with the pepper loach). Sometimes the pond loach (especially the golden variety) is mistaken for the kuhli loach. The kuhli, however, likes warm tropical temperatures, will tolerate more acidic conditions, and matures at a much smaller four inches (10 cm). Although these two species have numerous differentiating traits, individual kuhli and pond loaches may resemble each other while young and at the usual age and size of what most fish stores market.
As food
The pond loach is a common culinary fish in East Asia, raised on a large scale in fish farming. According to FAO, M. anguillicaudatus was 30th on the list of most important species in aquaculture, in terms of total weight produced in 2018.[6]
In Korea, chueo-tang (loach soup) is made with pond loach.
Range
Native range
According to the US Geological Survey, M. caudatus is native to eastern Asia from Siberia to Northern Vietnam, including Japan.[7]
Introduced range
Between 2010 and 2020 M. anguillicaudatus was found in 10 states of the United States including Alabama and Georgia.[8] The Georgia find was in November 2020[9] in McNutt creek[9][8] in Athens[8][9] on the border between Clarke and Oconee.[8] This indicates eastern Georgia is environmentally suitable for it, and so if not stopped M. anguillicaudatus is expected to spread through the area.[9] That could include the downstream and adjacent rivers, the Middle Oconee, the North Oconee, the Oconee River itself, the Ocmulgee, and the Altamaha.[9]
As of November 2021, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, this species has also been captured from the wild in Illinois (including many captures in the Chicago area), New York, Ohio, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Louisiana, and southern California.[10]
See also
Loach
European weather loach
Dojō nabe
References
Zhao, H. (2012). "Misgurnus anguillicaudatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T166158A1115635. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T166158A1115635.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Juddery, Bruce (26 July 1994). "Tough Asian fish a great survivor". The Canberra Times. p. 10.
Belcik, John (2017-01-01). "Population Genetics and Distribution of the Oriental Weatherfish, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, in Chicago Area Waterways". Master's Theses.
Ip, Y. K.; Chew, S. F.; Randall, D. J. (September 2004). "Five Tropical Air‐Breathing Fishes, Six Different Strategies to Defend against Ammonia Toxicity on Land". Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 77 (5): 768–782. doi:10.1086/422057. ISSN 1522-2152. PMID 15547795. S2CID 20545085.
Chew, Shit F.; Jin, Yi; Ip, Yuen K. (March 2001). "The LoachMisgurnus anguillicaudatusReduces Amino Acid Catabolism and Accumulates Alanine and Glutamine during Aerial Exposure". Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 74 (2): 226–237. doi:10.1086/319663. ISSN 1522-2152. PMID 11247742. S2CID 23099421.
"FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture Global Production Overview". FAO. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
"Pond Loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) - Species Profile". USGS. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
"Invasive fish discovered in Georgia creek". UGA Today. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
Ginn, Alyssa (1970-01-01). "Invasive fish, spider make their way to Athens". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
"Nonindigenous Aquatic Species". nas.er.usgs.gov. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
Bibliography
"Misgurnus anguillicaudatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 30 January 2006.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2005). "Misgurnus anguillicaudatus" in FishBase. 10 2005 version.
How to Keep Your New Weather Loach
"New Invasive Fish Spreads Through The Ebro Delta". Science News. Science Daily. 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
Franch, Nati; Clavero, Miguel; Garrido, Montse; Gaya, Norbert; Lopez, Veronica; Pou-Rovira, Quim; Maria Queral, Josep (2008). "On the establishment and range expansion of oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) in NE Iberian Peninsula". Biological Invasions. 10 (8): 1327. doi:10.1007/s10530-007-9207-9. hdl:10261/46169. S2CID 3236525.
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