How much do loaches and oddballs cost in the UK?

Common kuhli loaches start at about £2.50, mid-range loaches and small oddballs run £10-£30, and larger specialist oddballs like bichirs and lungfish reach into the hundreds. Prices on this page are live: what you see is what's in stock today.

What is an 'oddball' fish?

Oddballs are the aquarium's characters — species that don't fit the usual community mould. Think bichirs, lungfish, freshwater gobies, dwarf frogs, hillstream loaches and knifefish. They often have special requirements around tank size, diet, water flow or tank mates, and they appeal to hobbyists who want something unusual.

Are clown loaches suitable for most tanks?

Only with planning. Clown loaches are wonderful, sociable and long-lived, but they grow large — potentially 20-30 cm — and need a big tank and a group. Many are bought as small juveniles without realising this. If you want the clown loach look in a smaller tank, kuhli or dwarf loaches are a better fit.

Do loaches help control snails?

Some do — clown loaches and yoyo loaches will hunt pest snails, which makes them a natural control in larger tanks. It is a useful bonus rather than a reason on its own to buy them, since they still need proper care, company and space. Assassin snails are an alternative for smaller tanks.

Is it safe to buy loaches and oddballs online?

Yes. Even unusual oddballs ship safely in oxygen-charged, insulated packaging with a winter heat pack, carried midweek by a licensed live-animal courier. We dispatch Tuesday or Wednesday to keep transit short, and every delivery carries our photo-proof live arrival guarantee.

Loaches & Oddball Fish for Sale UK

Loaches and oddball fish for sale UK — Kuhli, Clown, Yoyo, Knife Fish, Bichirs, Puffers, Mudskippers, Eels.

65 products available

Every loach and oddball on this page is a live fish held in our own system before dispatch — not a stock photo. We stock kuhli, clown and zebra loaches, plus true oddballs — bichirs, lungfish, dwarf frogs, gobies and more — with new imports landing most weeks.

These fish ship in oxygen-charged bags inside an insulated box, dispatched Tuesday or Wednesday with a licensed live-animal courier so your fish never sits over a weekend. Every order carries our live arrival guarantee: photograph any problem in the unopened bag within 2 hours and we refund or replace.

This is the section for the unusual and the characterful — bottom-dwelling loaches that need company, and oddballs that break the normal community rules. Care needs vary enormously here, so read the individual care guides linked below and check adult size and temperament carefully before ordering.

Current delivery and offer information

Follow each link for the latest terms before ordering.

Arrival guaranteeLive Arrival GuaranteeRead the current claim and evidence terms.Specialist deliverySpecialist live-animal deliverySee current price, postcode coverage and dispatch information.First-order offerCurrent first-order offerCheck the offers page for active terms.65 in stock65 in stockBrowse the current in-stock catalogue.

Browse all 65 Loaches & Oddballs

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Frequently asked questions

Most social loaches do — kuhli loaches and clown loaches are shoaling fish that hide and pine if kept alone, so keep at least 5-6. A lone loach is a stressed, rarely-seen loach. Some oddball 'loaches' are more solitary, so always check the specific species before buying just one or two.

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Care guides

Kuhli Loach Care Guide: Pangio kuhlii for UK Aquarists
Complete Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) care guide — tank size, water parameters, diet, tank mates, hiding behaviour. Written by a UK aquarist, cited sources.

Buying guides

Tropical Fish for Sale UK — all species

Free Care Guide

Complete Loaches & Oddballs Care Guide

Tank setup, diet, water parameters and tank-mate compatibility, backed by cited sources.

Read Guide