Loach Fish

Loaches are freshwater fish that are related to carps and can be found throughout Asia and Europe, with a few species in northern Africa. They are elongated and compressed, live at the bottom of the food chain, and many are nocturnal. Barbels surround the lips of most species, and the dorsal and anal fins are usually small and positioned in the back half of the body. The swimbladder is decreased and partially or completely enclosed in bone. The gut is used as an additional breathing organ by some loaches.

The stone loach, Noemachilus barbatulus, can be found in most clean brooks throughout Europe, as well as China and Japan. During the day, it hides in cracks or behind stones, only emerging to feed at night. Although it hardly grows to a height of 5 inches (13 cm), it is delicious to eat. The spined loach, Cobitis taenia, has a short spine below the eye and is found throughout Asia, including China. It bears horizontal rows of dots down its sides and is 4 inches (10 cm) long.

When air pressure rises, as it does before a rainstorm, the weather fish Misgurnus fossils, a 20 in (51 cm) long European loach, becomes highly agitated and continually comes to the surface. The bone-encased swim bladder is extremely sensitive, which causes this odd behaviour. CLASS:Pisces, FAMILY:Cobitidae, ORDERR: Cypriniformes,