Barred loach
Nemacheilus fasciatus
Also known as Banded loach, Cobitis fasciata, Vietnam Red Tail Zebra Loach
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–77°F
- 20–25°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.1 in
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Nemacheilidae
- Origin
- Native to clear mountain streams of Java, Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia, over gravel and sand in flowing water.
Overview
Keep a group in a tank of 90 litres or more with sand and rockwork, at 20 to 25 C and pH 6.0 to 7.5. It is an omnivore and bottom sifter that eats sinking foods, frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. Generally peaceful but mildly territorial, it suits cool community tanks with danios, barbs and other stream fish.
In the wild
A slender stream loach growing to around 8 cm, patterned with a row of dark vertical bars along a pale body. It comes from cool, quiet, clear mountain streams and wants clean, oxygen-rich water with some flow and a soft sand bed for sifting. It spends its day working the substrate for small food items.
Good to know
It sits in the stone loach family Nemacheilidae and was first described as Cobitis fasciata in 1846. Studies of its oxygen use show it is sensitive to warm, low-oxygen water, in keeping with its cool upland home.
Did you know
It sifts mouthfuls of sand for food and passes the grains out through its gills, so a soft sand bed keeps it busy and healthy.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Barred loach is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Sondhi danio
Devario sondhii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Spotted hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus maculatus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Sparkling loach
Schistura coruscans
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Meghalaya danio
Danio meghalayensis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Wrestling halfbeak
Dermogenys pusilla
FreshwaterBrackish2.8 in (7 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Barred loach need?
A Barred loach needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Barred loach need?
A Barred loach is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Barred loach get?
An adult Barred loach reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).
Related species
3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Silverbelly loach
Nemacheilus argyrogaster
3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.9 in (7.3 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Flathead loach
Nemacheilus platiceps
2.9 in (7.3 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Twin-spot loach
Nemacheilus binotatus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.6 in (6.7 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Guenther's zipper loach
Nemacheilus guentheri
2.6 in (6.7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Corica loach
Nemacheilus corica
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Ornate stone loach
Nemacheilus ornatus
2 in (5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)