Charcoal loach

Schistura carbonaria

Also known as Carbon stone loach, Pasta loach

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 70–79°F (21–26°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 3.4 in (8.6 cm)
Minimum tank: 24 gal (90 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Coastal drainages of central Vietnam
Family: Nemacheilidae

Overview

Like most Schistura, this is a bottom loach that claims a patch of rockwork and defends it, so give each fish its own broken-up territory and squabbles stay minor. In a bare or crowded tank they spar more, so scape with plenty of stones, caves, and sightline breaks. It mixes well with active, current-loving midwater fish such as danios and hillstream barbs. Feed sinking granules, frozen bloodworm, and other meaty foods, and keep the water moving and well-oxygenated. A tank of around 90 liters or more with a rocky floor suits a small group.

In the wild

The charcoal loach comes from short, fast coastal rivers of central Vietnam, including the Thu Bon system, where clear water runs quickly over rock and gravel. Recreate that with a substrate of rounded stones and gravel, strong flow, and high oxygen levels. Keep it at 21 to 26 degrees Celsius with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Bright, clean, moving water matters more than any particular decor, so prioritize good filtration and current.

Good to know

Schistura carbonaria reaches about 8.6 centimeters and takes its name from the Latin for coal, a reference to its dark, soot-toned barring. It belongs to the large stone loach genus Schistura, whose members are built for life in fast water. It has not been bred in the aquarium as far as records show. Central Vietnam's steep, short rivers hold many localized Schistura, and this is one of several confined to that narrow coastal strip.

Did you know

Its home rivers are strikingly short, dropping from Vietnam's coastal mountains to the sea in barely a hundred kilometers, which helps isolate populations and is part of why the region has so many stone loaches found nowhere else.