HomeFreshwater aquarium fishLoachesCommon spiny loach Common spiny loach (Lepidocephalichthys thermalis) Scientific name: Lepidocephalichthys thermalis Valenciennes, 1846 Photo: https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/lepidocephalichthys-thermalis/ The Common spiny loach (Lepidocephalichthys thermalis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 22–24°C (72–75°F). Native range: Asia, India and Sri Lanka. Common spiny loach care at a glanceTemperature22–24°C (72–75°F) BiologyFound usually in quiet, flowing waters with a sandy substrate. Feeds mainly on detritus, but also algae.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameLepidocephalichthys thermalisFamilyCobitidae (Loaches)OrderCypriniformes (Carps)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length38.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.0; dH range: ? - 5 demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: India and Sri Lanka.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More loachesCoolie loachPangio kuhliiZebra loachBotia striataReticulate loachBotia lohachataBengal loachBotia darioHorseface loachAcantopsis choirorhynchosSkunk botiaYasuhikotakia morletiSee all loaches SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026