TankBud

Chameleon loach

Syncrossus beauforti

Also known as Beaufort's loach, Chameleon botia, Botia beauforti, Beaufort's Leopard Loach

FreshwaterFish

Chameleon loach (Syncrossus beauforti)
Lerdsuwa · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Botiidae
Origin
Native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins across Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, in flowing rivers and streams over sand and gravel.

Overview

The chameleon loach is a big, powerful, boisterous botiid that lives on the bottom and grows too large for small tanks. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The chameleon loach's taste for snails makes it a natural controller of pest snails. Its size and temper limit where it can live, though.

Caring for the chameleon loach

Chameleon loaches need serious space, so plan on 106 gal (400 L) or more. Give them a sand bed to sift with their barbels, and plenty of rock and wood for cover. Run strong filtration with good oxygen, and keep the tank mature and spotless.

Keep the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. The chameleon loach is an omnivore, and it eats sinking pellets, frozen foods, snails and worms.

It is aggressive toward other fish and is not a community fish. Keep a group of five or more of its own kind to spread out the squabbling. Pair it only with robust, fast tank mates, such as large barbs or similar loaches.

Good to know

The chameleon loach, Syncrossus beauforti, is a botiid in the family Botiidae, and it also goes by Beaufort's loach and Botia beauforti. During disputes it loses much of its pattern and color. This temporary fading, called graying out, gives the chameleon loach its name. Like other botiids it carries a sharp sub-orbital spine, which can injure careless handlers and tear nets.

In the wild

Chameleon loaches are native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins across Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. They live in flowing rivers and streams over sand and gravel.

Common questions

What size tank does a chameleon loach need?

A chameleon loach needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a chameleon loach need?

A chameleon loach is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a chameleon loach eat?

A chameleon loach is an omnivore. It eats sinking pellets and frozen foods, along with snails and worms.

How big does a chameleon loach get?

An adult chameleon loach reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Related species