AquaNexus verified profile
Weather loach
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
A large social East Asian loach retained for identification, welfare and biosecurity reference. It is declared noxious in South Australia, cannot be held or traded without specific authorisation, and must not be returned to the water when caught.
Outcome: REJECTED Permanent ID: 728
Profile overview
- Scientific Name
- Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
- Identity and search names
- dojo loach, pond loach, Weather loach pond form, oriental weatherloach
- Category
- Freshwater fish
- Subgroup
- Loaches
- Environment
- Freshwater
- Origin
- East Asia; introduced widely outside its native range, including established pest populations in Australia
- Care
- Intermediate
- Adult Size
- 20–30 cm
- Lifespan
- 6–20 years
- Tank
- Outside jurisdictions where possession is lawful: at least 450 L with a 150 cm or longer footprint for five or more, smooth substrate, secure cover and surface access
- Temp
- 10–24 °C
- pH
- 6.0–7.8
- Hardness
- Moderate to hard
- Salinity
- Freshwater
- Lighting
- Normal aquarium lighting
- Placement
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore; many relish invertebrates
- Compatibility
- This profile is retained for identification and welfare reference, not acquisition advice in South Australia
- Filtration
- Use mature biological filtration with effective mechanical solids capture and turnover matched to the species’ natural flow needs. Protect intakes, preserve established media during cleaning and keep ammonia and nitrite at zero.
- Aeration
- Maintain continuous surface agitation and dependable dissolved oxygen across the whole aquarium. Increase oxygen reserve in warm water, strong-current systems, dense groups, medication periods and power interruptions.
- Maintenance
- Observe feeding, respiration, body condition and social behaviour daily; test nitrogen waste and key chemistry on a schedule; clean mechanical media before trapped waste decomposes; and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.
- Welfare
- Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding, and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Oriental weatherloach is declared noxious in South Australia. It cannot be held or traded without specific authorisation and must not be returned to the water when caught.
- Biosecurity
- Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
- Review Status
- REJECTED
- Source Status
- REJECTED — the organism is unsuitable for routine acquisition or captive care under the stated scope; do not treat this as a purchase recommendation. CURRENT
App-ready care, welfare and biosecurity details
Identity Scope
Single-profile scope for Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Preserve permanent AquaNexus ID 728, slug dojo-loach and route /species/dojo-loach/; retain former combinations, locality labels, domestic-form names and trade names only as searchable aliases. The record is retained for identification, welfare and biosecurity reference and is not acquisition or possession advice in South Australia.
Adult Size And Space
Expected adult size: 20–30 cm. Minimum permanent housing: Outside jurisdictions where possession is lawful: at least 450 L with a 150 cm or longer footprint for five or more, smooth substrate, secure cover and surface access. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, social structure, aggression, oxygen demand and waste production rather than sale size.
Social Structure
A strongly social loach normally kept in a group of at least five where possession is lawful
Swimming Zone
Primary zone: Bottom. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding, refuge and escape.
Feeding Ecology
Omnivore; many relish invertebrates
Feeding Plan
Small appropriate meals based on age and body condition
Water Stability
Maintain 10–24 °C; pH 6.0–7.8; hardness or minerals: Moderate to hard; salinity: Freshwater. Stability, oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact value.
Habitat Structure
Outside prohibited jurisdictions: a large cool freshwater aquarium with smooth sand, broad bottom space, multiple refuges, strong oxygenation and a tightly secured lid
Compatibility Plan
This profile is retained for identification and welfare reference, not acquisition advice in South Australia
Breeding Plan
Egg scattering is reported, but no possession or breeding guidance is provided where the species is prohibited Parental care: No post-spawning brood care is reported.
Quarantine
Quarantine new livestock in a separate cycled system for at least 30 days. Observe appetite, respiration, waste, skin, fins and behaviour; use dedicated equipment and never add transport water to the established aquarium.
Welfare Checks
Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding, and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Oriental weatherloach is declared noxious in South Australia. It cannot be held or traded without specific authorisation and must not be returned to the water when caught.
Biosecurity And Release
Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.
Main Risk
Oriental weatherloach is declared noxious in South Australia. It cannot be held or traded without specific authorisation and must not be returned to the water when caught.
Adult Projected Load
Plan filtration and stocking for the full adult size (20–30 cm), the complete social group and peak feeding waste, not the current shop size. Permanent housing remains Outside jurisdictions where possession is lawful: at least 450 L with a 150 cm or longer footprint for five or more, smooth substrate, secure cover and surface access.
Filtration
Use mature biological filtration with effective mechanical solids capture and turnover matched to the species’ natural flow needs. Protect intakes, preserve established media during cleaning and keep ammonia and nitrite at zero.
Aeration
Maintain continuous surface agitation and dependable dissolved oxygen across the whole aquarium. Increase oxygen reserve in warm water, strong-current systems, dense groups, medication periods and power interruptions.
Maintenance
Observe feeding, respiration, body condition and social behaviour daily; test nitrogen waste and key chemistry on a schedule; clean mechanical media before trapped waste decomposes; and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.
Overridable Warnings
The REJECTED South Australian acquisition outcome cannot be overridden. Do not acquire, hold, breed, trade or move this fish without specific lawful authority; never release it and use current official disposal directions if surrender is unavailable.
Sources and review basis
- Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Misgurnus anguillicaudatus: Taxonomy — accepted name, former combinations, synonyms and family placement
- PIRSA — Oriental Weatherloach: South Australian legal status — noxious species, possession and trade restrictions, and mandatory non-return when caught
- IUCN Red List — Misgurnus anguillicaudatus: Conservation and provenance — current wild-status and collection-risk cross-check
- PIRSA — South Australian noxious fish list: Australian biosecurity — current South Australian possession, trade and movement restrictions
- DAFF — importing live ornamental fish to Australia: Australian biosecurity — national live-fish import pathways and permitted-species warning
AquaNexus uses original editorial synthesis. Exact import, possession, movement and disposal requirements must be rechecked with the current authority before acquisition or transfer.