Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Golden Dojo

Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

Also called Golden weather loach, Gold dojo

VarietyShort profile

From East Asia: Siberia (Amur basin), Sakhalin, Korea, Japan and China south to northern Vietnam1 2 3

At a glance the quick version

Length10 to 28 cm2 1 3

Sizemedium

Bright golden colour that stands out against dark sand

Gentle, peaceful and full of character

Very hardy coldwater fish

3 2

Looks how to spot one

Long, eel-like loach with barbels

The golden dojo is a colour form of the weather loach with the same long, eel-like body and six mouth barbels, but its dark pigment is missing, leaving a warm golden yellow to orange fish.2 3

Coloursgolden yellow to orange (xanthic)3 2

Personality what they are like

Peaceful and friendly with its own kind and other fish, and often quite comical, resting in odd poses and then bursting back into action.3 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Becomes noticeably more active and lively when kept with others of its kind.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Needs a fine, soft sand bottom for digging and a tight-fitting lid, as it can jump. Not a tropical fish, so no heater is usually needed indoors.2 3

Home where they are happiest

A large tank with a base of at least 120 x 45 cm (about 240 litres) suits adults. Seriously Fish recommends 18-23 C (tolerates 5-25 C), pH 6.0-8.0 and hardness 1-12 dGH.3 1

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A bottom forager that eats worms, insect larvae and small crustaceans. Sinking foods work well, with regular live or frozen Daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm.1 3 2

Company who they like around

Best kept in a group of at least three.2 3

The story where it all began

The golden dojo is an ornamental strain of the East Asian weather loach, bred for the aquarium trade. Seriously Fish describes it as a xanthic form, and Wikipedia lists golden dojo among the captive-bred varieties.2 3

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It is the same species as the wild weather loach, simply lacking dark pigment.3
2
Like its wild relative it can breathe air through its gut when water is low in oxygen.2
3
It may react to falling air pressure before storms with bursts of frantic swimming.2

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 20 September 2011)1
FishBase: Listed as used in the commercial aquarium trade1
Aquarium trade: Ornamental xanthic (golden) strain of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus3

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Golden Dojo. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
Water testevery week
Glass cleanevery week
Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month

Start a free diary

Weather Loach

Stone Loach

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FishBase: Misgurnus anguillicaudatus fishbase.seused for size, native range, temperature, diet, reproduction, IUCN status
Wikipedia: Pond loach en.wikipedia.orgused for names, size, colours, weather behaviour, air breathing, food use, care, fun facts
Seriously Fish: Misgurnus anguillicaudatus seriouslyfish.comused for tank size, water parameters, diet, behaviour, colour forms

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.