Chinese tiger loach

Care at a glance

Overview

Give a group of four or more real floor space and filtration to match their appetite. They handle themselves fine with medium-sized active fish and make short work of snail problems. Cooler-than-tropical water keeps them at their best.

In the wild

The Chinese tiger loach ranges through river systems of southern China into northern Vietnam. It likes flowing, well-oxygenated water over sand and cobble at 18 to 26 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5 to 7.5, with hides among stones.

Good to know

Sinibotia robusta is the big one of its genus, reaching about 18 centimeters. It wears broad tiger barring in gold and brown, and robusta means exactly what it looks like: a thickset, muscular botiid built for current.

Did you know

Snail-keepers know Sinibotia by reputation: a group of these can clear a tank of pest snails in days, shells and all.

Common questions

Related species

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• 

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