Inle loach
Yunnanilus brevis
Also known as Petruichthys brevis, Inle dwarf loach, Lake Inle red tail loach
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F (20–26°C)
- pH
- 7.0–8.2
- Adult size
- 2.6 in (6.5 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal (75 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Inle Lake and nearby waters, Shan Plateau, Myanmar
- Family
- Nemacheilidae
Overview
Treat it like a shoaling midwater fish that happens to be a loach: eight or more, planted alkaline water, and small foods taken on the drift. It pairs naturally with other Inle endemics like the rosy loach's kin and dwarf danios.
In the wild
The Inle loach comes from Inle Lake on Myanmar's Shan Plateau, a clear alkaline lake at 900 meters where it swims among weed beds rather than hugging stone. Keep it at 20 to 26 degrees Celsius in hard, alkaline water at pH 7.0 to 8.2 with fine plants.
Good to know
Yunnanilus brevis, also cataloged as Petruichthys brevis, reaches about 6.5 centimeters and is strongly dimorphic: males wear a crisp dark stripe, females a row of blotches. Unusually for a loach it swims in open midwater in schools.
Did you know
It is the rosy loach's big lake-dwelling cousin and one of the few loaches on Earth that schools in open water, a bottom-dweller lineage that moved upstairs.
Tank mates
Inle loach is a peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Ornate rainbowfish
Rhadinocentrus ornatusFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Julii cory
Hoplisoma juliiFreshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Amazon molly
Poecilia formosaFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Orange-finned danio
Danio kyathitFreshwater2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Canius barb
Pethia caniusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Indian glassy fish
Parambassis rangaFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Inle loach need?
An Inle loach needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH do Inle loach need?
Inle loach are comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.
How big do Inle loach get?
An adult Inle loach reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Do Inle loach need a group?
Yes. Inle loach are a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Inle loach?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Planning tankmates
See how Inle loach fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
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Related species
Mini zebra loach
Yunnanilus pulcherrimusFreshwater2 in (5 cm)14 gal (54 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Cross loach
Micronemacheilus cruciatusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Barito loach
Kapuasia falarisFreshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Rosy loach
Petruichthys sp. 'rosy'Freshwater1.2 in (3 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Thuttinjet stone loach
Nemacheilus stigmofasciatusFreshwater2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Assam banded loach
Neonoemacheilus assamensisFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)