Mini zebra loach
Yunnanilus pulcherrimus
Also known as Dwarf zebra stone loach
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–75°F
- 18–24°C
- pH
- 6.8–8.0
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal
- 54 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Nemacheilidae
- Origin
- Karst streams of Guangxi, China
Overview
The mini zebra loach is a small, peaceful, striped loach for the bottom of a cool community tank. It suits a keeper who has moved past beginner fish.
Did you know
The mini zebra loach's species name, pulcherrimus, is a Latin superlative meaning most beautiful. It was awarded in 2004 for the neat pattern of thin dark stripes crossing a broad band along its side.
Caring for the mini zebra loach
Keep a group of mini zebra loaches together, since they are sociable and show best in numbers. A tank of 14 gal (54 L) or more keeps a small group busy and confident. Give them a floor of pale gravel and smooth stone, with open patches to move across.
Keep the water cool, at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C), with a pH of 6.8 to 8.0. Give it water that is a touch hard, on the alkaline side, to match the limestone of its home streams. Keep it clean and well filtered, with moderate flow and good oxygen.
Feed small sinking foods, frozen daphnia and micro pellets. The mini zebra loach is more active and outgoing than many bottom dwellers, often perching on stones in full view. Choose small, calm tank mates that suit slightly harder, cool water. Its aquarium breeding has not been documented.
Good to know
Yunnanilus pulcherrimus carries crisp, zebra-like barring across its body, and it belongs to the family Nemacheilidae. Its genus, Yunnanilus, is a group of small loaches from the karst country of southern China.
In the wild
The mini zebra loach lives in clear karst streams over pale limestone in Guangxi, southern China. The surrounding rock leaves the water cool and a touch hard.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The mini zebra loach is a 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.
Amiet's lyretail
Fundulopanchax amieti
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Scherer's hatchetfish
Carnegiella schereri
Freshwater1 in (2.6 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Black devil snail
Faunus ater
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Paraguay black otocinclus
Otothyropsis piribebuy
Freshwater1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Crescent gambusia
Gambusia hurtadoi
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a mini zebra loach need?
A mini zebra loach needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a mini zebra loach need?
A mini zebra loach is comfortable at 64–75°F (18–24°C) with a pH of 6.8–8.0.
What does a mini zebra loach eat?
A mini zebra loach eats small sinking foods, frozen daphnia and micro pellets.
How big does a mini zebra loach get?
An adult mini zebra loach reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Related species
2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Inle loach
Yunnanilus brevis
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