Gold or silver patches shine through the black coloring as a pattern of dots.īecause the dwarf chain loach is so active, with a semi-aggressive temperament, it’s best to keep the fish in a large tank, with lots of space to move. The dwarf chain loach has a base color of gold or silver on its bottom half, while its top half has a lace-like black overlay. The chain loach has four sets of thick but short barbels that it uses to forage for food in the silt. With a thick, cylindrical body, the chain loach has all the classic loach features, including the downturned mouth. The dwarf chain loach is indigenous to Thailand, and in the wild, the fish is a nationally protected species. Dwarf Chain LoachĬare level: Temperament: Color: Lifespan: Size: Moderate Active, semi-aggressive Golden brown, dark brown 8–12 years 2 inches Water temperature: Water pH: Tank size: Diet: Scientific name: 68–86 ☏ 6.0–7.5 30 gallons Omnivore Ambastaia sidthimunki Keep lepto loaches in groups of four or more fish. Because lepto loaches are more active than other loaches, the fish can be observed interacting with other fish. While the lepto loach tolerates most fish, this loach is known for fin nibbling and territorial disputes, and is even known to hunt and eat small fish. Lepto loaches are some of the most aggressive loach species. This provides an ideal environment for lepto loaches to hunt crustaceans and insects like bloodworms and larvae, which the fish enjoy doing in the wild. Aquariums need to offer clear, well-oxygenated water and a substrate of aqua soil and stone. The lepto loach is not a common fish store find. Originating from China, the lepto loach frequents river beds with silt and stone substrates. Lepto loaches are golden brown with dark brown bands across their bodies, banded fins, and a banded tail. Lepto LoachĬare level: Temperament: Color: Lifespan: Size: Moderate Aggressive Golden brown, dark brown 5–8 years 12 inches Water temperature: Water pH: Tank size: Diet: Scientific name: 72–77 ☏ 6.0–7.5 20 gallons Omnivore Leptobotia guilinensis Keep one horsehead loach per tank, or if the tank is large enough and you have sufficient caves and underwater plants, keep two fish for mating purposes. The horsehead loach is peaceful and prefers to sleep during the day, emerging at night to scavenge for food. Ensure your aquarium has aqua silt and pebble substrate and prevent strong currents that stress these fish. In aquariums, the horsehead loach feeds on fish flakes, sinking pellets, frozen foods, vegetables, and algae wafers.Ĭlean water is essential for a horsehead loach as the fish has small scales and a scaleless head that is susceptible to disease like bacterial infections. In the wild, weather loaches dig through the silt in rivers, searching for food. Weather loaches are bottom feeders and bury themselves in the substrate, searching for shrimp, snails, and fallen fish pellets. Weather loaches have downturned mouths with five sets of barbels the fish use to excavate the substrate. These spots merge into three or more bands that run the length of the fish’s bodies. Weather loaches have elongated, eel-like bodies and are golden bronze in color with a scattering of brown spots. The weather loach, or dojo loach, is native to Siberia, Japan, Korea, China, and northern Vietnam. Weather LoachĬare level: Temperament: Color: Lifespan: Size: Easy Peaceful Golden bronze with brown spots forming bands 7–10 years 6–12 inches Water temperature: Water pH: Tank size: Diet: Scientific name: 64–75 ☏ 6.0–8.0 55 gallons Zebra loaches are nocturnal bottom dwellers and scavenge the substrate for algae, shrimp, eggs, and protein foods. The fish feed on snails and shrimps as well as fish flakes and plant material. Yoyo loaches enjoy slow moving currents, and in nature, and are found in river bends and rocky ponds. The yoyo loach is native to Bangladesh and Nepal and can also be found in India. The head of an adult loach points downward with wide jaws that are edged with four sets of barbels. Adult yoyo loaches have a more net-like pattern. The yoyo loach is a friendly, active fish with a long thin body, silver coloring, and dark brown patches that join to spell the letters “y” and “o” on the fish’s sides. Yoyo LoachĬare level: Temperament: Color: Lifespan: Size: Moderate Active, friendly Silver and dark brown 6–16 years 3–6 inches Water temperature: Water pH: Tank size: Diet: Scientific name: 73–82 ☏ 6.0–7.6 3–12 gallons Omnivore Botia almorhae Watching these loaches latch to the side of your glass tank is entertaining. Hillstream loaches are shy loaches, and when disturbed, the fish swim away.
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