Home · Cobitidae · Shelford's kuhli
Shelford's kuhli (Pangio shelfordii) — Cobitidae

Shelford's kuhli

Pangio shelfordii
Family: Cobitidae

The Shelford's kuhli (Pangio shelfordii) is a freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Shelford's kuhli is a kuhli loach (Cobitidae) from fresh water of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a very slender, eel-like, brown-yellow body with dark crossbars, barbels and a small erectable spine below the eye. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it wriggles among leaf litter, roots and sand of quiet forest streams and snaps at small invertebrates and organic matter. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Shelford's kuhli?

The Shelford's kuhli has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Shelford's kuhli live?

The Shelford's kuhli lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Shelford's kuhli get?

The Shelford's kuhli grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Shelford's kuhli dangerous to humans?

No, the Shelford's kuhli is harmless to humans.

Is the Shelford's kuhli edible?

Yes, the Shelford's kuhli is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Shelfords kuhli sourced
English name
Shelford's kuhli sourced
Scientific name
Pangio shelfordii
Family
Cobitidae
Other names
Shelford's loach verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pangio

More from the family Cobitidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →