Longstripe loach
Nemacheilus longistriatus
Also known as Long-striped stone loach, Black line torpedo loach
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Nemacheilidae
- Origin
- Mekong basin
Overview
The longstripe loach is a large, mostly peaceful stone loach for the floor of a long, flowing tank. It is a step up from beginner fish.
Did you know
Nearly every species in its genus wears vertical bars, but the longstripe loach carries a long horizontal stripe down each flank. The stripe forms where a row of dark blotches runs together, and it gives the fish its name.
Caring for the longstripe loach
Give a small group of longstripe loaches a tank of 42 gal (160 L) or more, longer than it is deep. Favor a big footprint over height, since open swimming length matters to a loach of this size. Lay a long floor of sand and rounded stone, with driftwood for structure and territories marked out in stone.
Keep the water warm, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Give it brisk flow and clean, well-oxygenated water.
It grows into a confident, room-owning bottom fish that eats any sinking meaty food. Feed pellets, frozen bloodworm and chopped prawn.
The longstripe loach is mostly peaceful and sociable, so keep several together as a group. Choose tank mates as you would for a small botiid loach, robust but peaceful. Its aquarium breeding is not on record.
Good to know
Nemacheilus longistriatus is one of the larger stone loaches, in the family Nemacheilidae. Maurice Kottelat described it in 1990.
In the wild
The longstripe loach lives in flowing reaches of the Mekong basin in Thailand and Laos. It is found over sand and cobble, in moderate to strong current.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The longstripe 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.
Apsara barb
Dawkinsia apsara
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Redfin halfbeak
Nomorhamphus ebrardtii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Torrent catfish
Glyptothorax dorsalis
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Flameback cichlid
Pundamilia nyererei
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Forest halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Mwanza dung hap
Enterochromis coprologus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a longstripe loach need?
A longstripe loach needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a longstripe loach need?
A longstripe loach is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a longstripe loach eat?
A longstripe loach eats any sinking meaty food, from pellets to frozen bloodworm and chopped prawn.
How big does a longstripe loach get?
An adult longstripe loach reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
Related species
6.3 in (16 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Arrow loach
Nemacheilus masyae
6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)Barred loach
Nemacheilus fasciatus
3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Silverbelly loach
Nemacheilus argyrogaster
3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.9 in (7.3 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Flathead loach
Nemacheilus platiceps
2.9 in (7.3 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Twin-spot loach
Nemacheilus binotatus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
2.6 in (6.7 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Guenther's zipper loach
Nemacheilus guentheri
2.6 in (6.7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)