With its intricate pattern and active nature, the Zebra Loach is a beautiful and interesting addition to most medium-sized community aquariums. Generally peaceful, this smaller species of loach is a social fish and best kept in groups of 5 or more – single specimens may become shy and hide. In addition to their attractive coloration, Zebra Loaches serve a useful function for planted tanks, actively hunting down and consuming pest snails.
With their vibrant coloration and active nature, Clown Loaches have been a staple in the aquarium hobby for years. A schooling fish, they are best kept in groups of 5 or more as smaller groups of fish will be shy and rarely display their active, almost comical natural behavior. Clown Loaches inhabit a variety of different habitats in their native Indonesia, and will adapt to most conditions in the aquarium. As a carnivore with a fast metabolism, they should be fed often with a variety of prepared and frozen foods to ensure they are well-fed. Although they can grow fairly large, they are slow growers and it may take years for them to reach their full adult size.
One of the smallest species of Botia and a longtime favorite in the aquarium hobby, the Dwarf Chain Loach or Sidthimunki Botia is a peaceful, active schooling fish ideally suited to most community or planted tanks. Originally found in river systems along the Thai/Myanmar border, they are now produced commercially for the aquarium trade. Like most Botias and Loaches, they are social fish and should be kept in groups of at least 3 to 5 specimens.
A longtime aquarium hobby favorite, the Yo Yo Loach is so named for the intricate pattern found on juvenile fish which appears to spell out the word “yo yo” along its sides. Also known as the Lohachata Botia or the Pakistani Loach, the species originates from streams in India, Bangladesh, and possibly Nepal, although wild specimens are rarely exported. Like most loaches, it is a social fish, and requires a group of at least 5 fish to thrive in captivity. A hardy, active, and attractively patterned species, they are generally peaceful toward most tankmates and make for excellent snail control in a planted or aquascaped aquarium (so should not be kept with snails or any small invertebrates).
Easily the most spectacularly marked of all the hillstream loaches, the Reticulated Hillstream Loach or Reticulated Butterfly Sucker is found in fast-flowing, rocky rapids in Central and Northern Vietnam. Perfectly adapted for life in fast moving waters, their heavily modified pectoral and anal fins form a suction-cup-like ventral surface that allows them to not only attach to almost any surface but actually move forward against strong current and even climb up sheer rock faces and waterfalls. Due to their specialized nature, they require fast, cool, well-oxygenated water not above 76F and strong current in the aquarium. They will readily feed on biofilms, algae, and certain prepared foods like Fluval Bug Bites Pleco Formula or Repashy Gel Diet. A social and outgoing species, they will thrive in groups of 5 or more and have successfully been bred in the aquarium.
A close relative of the more well known banded Kuhlii Loach, the Black Kuhlii or Java loach has a similar eel-like shape and active, social nature. In the wild, they are found in a wide range of habitats, from peat swamps to shallow stretches of large river and can be found in most of Southeast Asia. In the wild, they usually inhabit soft, slightly acidic water with a fine sand or mud substrate and in areas with ample leaf litter and other cover and during the day are typically found burrowed in or close to the substrate. In the aquarium, they are hardy fish but prefer plenty of cover and will be most active and happiest in groups of 5 or more.
A unique and unusual looking loach in the family Cobitidae, the Neon or Golden Kuhli Loach is one of several similar elongated species found throughout parts of Southeast Asia. With its vibrant, almost iridescent pink coloration and active nature, they make a fascinating addition to an appropriately set up aquarium. In the wild these fish are found in large aggregations, and like most loaches are a social fish that should be kept in groups of at least 5. Their wild habitat is characterized by warm, slightly acidic slow moving waters with fine sand substrate in which they will actively burrow to find food. In the aquarium, they will do best in similar conditions, with a fine sand or at least smooth substrate which will allow them to burrow being necessary for their long term health.
The Panda Loach is an attractively marked small species originating from cool, fast flowing streams in Southern China. An algae grazer and scavenger in nature, they will do best in an aquarium with some current and ample rocks or driftwood for cover and grazing surfaces. Although they will adapt to warmer temperatures for a time they will do best at cooler temperatures (68-75) long term.
One of the more attractive and peaceful species of Loach, the Angelicus or Kubotai Botia originates from the Salween River basin along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Like almost all species of Loach or Botia, they are social fish and best kept in groups of 5 or more. In the aquarium, they are hardy and relatively undemanding, and make for excellent pest snail control in planted tanks.
A resident of fast-moving, rocky streams in Southeast Asia, Red Lizard Loaches use their modified pectoral fins to attach themselves to the rocky substrate and move among the rocks in search of food. In the wild, they are grazers and generalists, feeding on algae, biofilm, and small insects and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they do best when kept under similar conditions to their wild habitat – rocks, ample current, and well-oxygenated water. Although they will accept a number of prepared sinking foods, it’s important to supplement their diet with algae- or veggie-based food.
An unusual and mostly temperate water species from China, the Hifin Banded Shark or Loach is actually a relative of the North American suckerfishes. An algae grazer and herbivore, these fish are found in clear, well-oxygenated waters and will do best with some current. Due to their huge adult size, this fish is best suited for temperate ponds, and often kept with koi or goldfish.
The Royal Clown Loach or Imperial Flower Loach is the largest species of loach or botia in the world, originating in the subtropical waters of China’s Yangtze River. An elongated species well adapted to life in fast-moving water, they are powerful swimmers which prefer strong current and well-oxygenated water in the aquarium. In the wild, they feed on worms, crustaceans, and other fish (including smaller loaches). They will readily hunt down and eat small tankmates so should be kept with similarly sized fish. As a cooler water species, they do best in an unheated tank with temperatures ranging from 55-74F.
A popular and active schooling species, the Rosy Loach is found in shallow waters throughout Eastern Myanmar where it occurs in large groups. An active, outgoing fish perfect for planted or nano aquariums, they are highly social and should be kept in groups of no less than 5 fish. They are constant grazers by nature, and have a fast metabolism so should ideally be fed more than once daily. An ideal community fish for a small aquarium, they should be kept with similarly sized peaceful species.
The Gold Line Panda Loach is variant of the popular Panda Loach, exhibiting a unique striped pattern. This small species originating from cool, fast flowing streams in Southern China is an algae grazer and scavenger. They will do best in an aquarium with some current and ample rocks or driftwood for cover and grazing surfaces. Although they will adapt to warmer temperatures for a time they will do best at cooler temperatures (68-75) long term.
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A longtime hobby favorite, the Kuhlii Loach is deservedly popular due to its unusual eel-like shape and active, social nature. In the wild, they are found in a wide range of habitats, from peat swamps to shallow stretches of large river and can be found in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In the wild, they usually inhabit soft, slightly acidic water with a fine sand or mud substrate and in areas with ample leaf litter and other cover and during the day are usually found burrowed in or close to the substrate. In the aquarium, they are hardy fish but prefer plenty of cover and will be most active and happiest in groups of 5 or more.
A distinctive, attractively marked hillstream loach found in fast-moving streams in Western Borneo, the Borneo Spotted Sucker Loach is found among rocks in well-oxygenated waters. In the aquarium, they are hardy fish as long as their wild habitat is replicated as closely as possible, with clean, aerated water and moderate to fast flow being essential to keep this species thriving long term. A grazer and opportunistic feeder, they should be given a varied diet high in algae or vegetable content like Fluval Bug Bites Pleco Formula or Repashy Gel Diet. A social fish, they should be kept in groups of at least 3.
A dwarf species of Botia or Loach found in Southern Chinaa and Northern Laos, A. nigrolineata is a rarity in the aquarium hobby. Like its more well known close relative, the Dwarf Chain Loach or Sidthimunki Botia, it is a peaceful, active schooling fish ideally suited to most community or planted tanks. Like most Botias and Loaches, they are social fish and should be kept in groups of at least 3 to 5 specimens.
A rarely imported hillstream loach from the upper Chaopraya River in Thailand, H. nanensis is, like most of its close relatives, highly adapted for life in the shallow, fast-moving mountain streams where they occur in the wild. In the aquarium, they require similar conditions, with cooler, well-oxygenated water, strong current, and lots of smooth rocks and driftwood for cover. They are specialized algae and biofilm grazers in the wild and require a varied diet of algae or vegetable based foods like Repashy gel diet.
A rare, cryptic loach found in the fast-moving rocky stretches of the Yangtze River in China, the Purple Imperial Loach or Purple Emperor Botia is a smaller growing and strikingly marked relative of the more well known Royal Clown Loach (L. elongata). Like its larger relative, it is a fast and agile swimmer, typically found darting among rocks in its native habitat where it feeds on snails, crustaceans, insects, and smaller fish. In the aquarium, they prefer cooler, well-oxygenated water with plenty of current and lots of cover in the form of rocks or caves. This species can be quite variable in color, with some specimens developing a mottled or reticulated pattern as they reach adult size.
A resident of fast-moving, rocky streams in Southeast Asia, Black Lizard Loaches use their modified pectoral fins to attach themselves to the rocky substrate and move among the rocks in search of food. In the wild, they are grazers and generalists, feeding on algae, biofilm, and small insects and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they do best when kept under similar conditions to their wild habitat – rocks, ample current, and well-oxygenated water. Although they will accept a number of prepared sinking foods, it’s important to supplement their diet with algae- or veggie-based food.
