Loach

The Loach is a fish found in the river at times of the day during the months of March through to May. It's shadow size is between small/medium. It is common to find in March, but considerably rarer to find in May.

Donating to the Museum
The loach can be donated to the Museum by talking to Blathers. During the donation, Blathers will say the following about the loach:

In City Folk
"The loach is a slippery, somewhat vile-looking fish...but in truth, it can be quite useful, wot? For ages, some cultures used the loach as a poison treatment. It also tastes great in a hot pot... A bit of wisdom for the day, eh wot? One must never judge a person, or a fish, by its appearance..."

The loach can be found in the middle-left tank.

Encyclopedia Information
Once the player has caught a particular fish or bug, they can find information about it in the bug or fish menus. Once the loach has been caught, the following information can be found in the fish menu:

Wild World

 * Size: 7.8 inches
 * Habitat: Rivers
 * Season: Spring
 * Sucker-shaped mouths help them bottom-feed. To control their vertical position in the water, they inhale air and pass gas. Shocking!

City Folk

 * Size: About 8 in.
 * Habitat: Rivers
 * Season: Spring
 * These use their whiskers to taste the environment and search for food.

Further Information
It is unclear what type of loach appears in Animal Crossing, due to the vast varieties of loaches that exist. It is however, a member of the Cobitidae family of loaches, called the True Loaches, which live in fast flowing waters. It could be a horse-face loach which grows to roughly 8 inches. All true loaches are "bottom feeders," meaning they swim at the bottom of rivers and tanks eating the algae at the bottom. They also eat small crustaceans and insects, but only during the day. This type of loach is a private and public aquarium favourite, favoured because of its eating habit which cleans a tank for the owner, making them easier to keep fish.