Do You Know About the Dojo?

The dojo loach, that is! 

This little guy has been a member of our family now for almost a month. We have an aquarium and got a few freshwater fish to put in it. We chose a dojo loach because they were really active.

I had no idea how much fun one would be! 

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, also known as the Dojo Loach and the Weather Loach, can reach 6" long and has a lifespan of 7-10 years. 

Our loach is a female - although we discovered this through research only after she was named Leeeeroy Jenkins. So Leroy it is. LOL 

Leroy is already 6" long so I'm assuming she's an adult, though I have no idea how old she is. 

She's very active. She does scavenge off the bottom like I read, but when we feed the fish, she'll eat the food right off the top of the water, too. She is also a social fish. She hangs out with the other fish a lot and she enjoys it when one of us approaches to the aquarium.

Our tank has a lid on it with a small opening to put food in. When I put a finger through and into the water, she'll come up and either "nibble" on my finger or she'll go back and forth brushing up against it like I'm petting her. 

She also likes to rest on things in the tank. I've seen her partway through the small hole in a treasure chest. Or resting on a starfish. My favorite, though, is when she drapes herself across the floating part of a large plant at the top of the water. she'll rest there until someone approaches the tank and then she's swimming again to say hello. At one point, she would swim above a point between the filter intake and the side of the tank and allow herself to float down over and over until she caught herself on the ledge there. She would stay there, draped across that ledge, until she got bored. Very funny to watch! 

They are often called weather loaches because they will get significantly more active during weather changes. We've seen this with Leroy as well, especially when we were getting thunderstorms. 

I've also read that they are able to take in atmospheric air by using the posterior portion of the intestine and skin as supplementary breathing organs. Interesting, right? 

Apparently, they can become quite tame and enjoy being petted, which I think is what she's trying to do when swimming back and forth against my finger. They can jump out of a tank easily, though. So I've not tried to pet her while lifting the lid. 

I've probably enjoyed this fish more than any other fish I've had in this or past aquariums. I hope Leroy lives a long, healthy life!

If you want to read some more interesting information about the Dojo Loach, check this link out.