TankBud

Chinese banded loach

Schistura fasciolata

Also known as Hong Kong stone loach, Red tail bumble bee loach

FreshwaterFish

Chinese banded loach (Schistura fasciolata)
no rights reserved · cc0

Care at a glance

Temperature
61–75°F
16–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Nemacheilidae
Origin
Southern China including Hong Kong

Overview

The Chinese banded loach is a coolwater river loach for the bottom of a fast-flowing tank. It is a fish for a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The Chinese banded loach lives in streams right on the edge of Hong Kong. Hikers in the hills above the skyline can find it in clear pools within sight of skyscrapers. That makes it one of the more urban wild loaches anywhere.

Caring for the Chinese banded loach

Keep the Chinese banded loach in a small group, in a tank of at least 29 gal (110 L). Build the floor from boulders, cobbles and gravel, with rock and cover for each fish. Provide real current and plenty of oxygen.

Most homes can keep it without a heater. Keep it at 61 to 75°F (16 to 24°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. It does best with a seasonal drop into the lower end of that range in winter, closer to the temperatures of its wild streams. Warm, still water is the one thing it does not tolerate.

Feed sinking meaty foods such as bloodworm, chopped prawn and pellets. It sets up territories, but with rock and cover it coexists calmly with tank mates and its own kind. Pair it with other subtropical fish such as white cloud mountain minnows or hillstream loaches. Aquarium spawning has not been documented.

Good to know

Schistura fasciolata is a fairly large stone loach, with roughly a dozen broad, dark bands across a pale body. It is one of the better-studied members of its genus, partly because its streams run through one of the world's most densely populated regions. Like other Schistura, it is a fast-water specialist rather than a still-pond fish. It is also known as the Hong Kong stone loach or red tail bumble bee loach.

In the wild

The Chinese banded loach lives in subtropical hill streams across southern China, including those of Hong Kong. It favors cool, fast, rocky water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Chinese banded 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Chinese banded loach need?

A Chinese banded loach needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Chinese banded loach need?

A Chinese banded loach is comfortable at 61–75°F (16–24°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Chinese banded loach eat?

A Chinese banded loach eats sinking meaty foods such as bloodworm, chopped prawn and pellets.

How big does a Chinese banded loach get?

An adult Chinese banded loach reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

Related species