Painted zipper loach
Paracanthocobitis pictilis
Also known as Acanthocobitis pictilis, Red tail zipper loach
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 2.6 in
- 6.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Nemacheilidae
- Origin
- Ataran drainage, Myanmar and Thailand
Overview
The painted zipper loach is a stone loach for the bottom of a community tank with gentle current. It suits a keeper with a little experience.
Did you know
The zipper in the painted zipper loach's name is the row of stitch-like marks along its back. In this species the stitching is fancy enough that its scientific name means painted or embroidered.
Caring for the painted zipper loach
Keep painted zipper loaches in a group, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more. Give them a varied floor with stones to hop between. In a group they perch on their fins as if on elbows, and they beg like minnows.
Keep the water at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, with a gentle current. Feed fine sinking foods.
Zipper loaches sit at the friendly end of the stone loach spectrum. The painted zipper loach is mostly peaceful and safe with community fish, so keep it with gentle company.
Good to know
Paracanthocobitis pictilis was described in 2015, in the revision that split the zipper loaches into their own genus. Some references keep it in Acanthocobitis. It belongs to the family Nemacheilidae.
In the wild
The painted zipper loach comes from the Ataran drainage, on the border of Myanmar and Thailand. It lives in clear streams over sand and gravel.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The painted zipper 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.
Fire bar danio
Devario maetaengensis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Blue panchax
Aplocheilus panchax
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Guenther's zipper loach
Nemacheilus guentheri
Freshwater2.6 in (6.7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Paraguay glass tetra
Prionobrama paraguayensis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–81°F (20–27°C)
Norman's lampeye
Poropanchax normani
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Aizawl loach
Schistura aizawlensis
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a painted zipper loach need?
A painted zipper loach needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a painted zipper loach need?
A painted zipper loach is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a painted zipper loach eat?
A painted zipper loach eats fine sinking foods.
How big does a painted zipper loach get?
An adult painted zipper loach reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).
Related species
3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Zipper loach
Paracanthocobitis botia
3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 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)
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)
- 2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Aizawl loach
Schistura aizawlensis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)Nilgiri loach
Schistura nilgiriensis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)24 gal (90 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Zodiac loach
Mesonoemacheilus triangularis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)