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Saddle-back loach

Homaloptera orthogoniata

Also known as Saddled Lizard Loach

FreshwaterFish

Saddle-back loach (Homaloptera orthogoniata)
TropicalAquaticsRSA · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–77°F
20–25°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
45 gal
170 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Shoaling
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Balitoridae
Origin
Borneo

Overview

The saddle-back loach is a slender hillstream fish that lives among rocks in fast water and is happiest in a group of six or more, where it is bolder and more active. It clings to and darts between stones on the bottom, grazing biofilm and picking at small foods, and it is entirely peaceful. It needs mature, algae-rich surfaces plus supplements of sinking wafers and small frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworms. This is a demanding species that suffers in warm, still, or dirty water, so pair it only with calm, cool-water fish that share its needs. A group requires a well-oxygenated tank of around 170 liters or larger with strong flow.

In the wild

Homaloptera orthogoniata is endemic to Borneo, living in swift, clear headwater streams that run cool and highly oxygenated over rock and gravel. It needs those conditions in the tank, roughly 20 to 25 C with a pH from about 6 to 7.5 and a brisk current. Use a powerhead or strong return to keep the water moving, lay in smooth rounded stones and cobbles for grazing and shelter, and keep the tank mature so biofilm can build. Pristine, well-filtered water and steady oxygen are essential, since this loach declines quickly in stagnant or polluted conditions.

Good to know

Homaloptera orthogoniata is a member of Balitoridae, the river loaches, and grows to around 11 cm. It has a low, tapering body marked with three or four large dark saddles across the back, and broad paired fins that help it grip rock in fast current. It lacks the erectile eye spine of the botiid and true loaches. Breeding is not recorded in home aquaria, and it is presumed to spawn among stones in flowing water, with trade fish taken from the wild.

Did you know

The saddle-back loach gets its name from the row of three or four broad, dark saddle markings that straddle its back, breaking up its outline against a mottled streambed. The pattern makes it one of the easier hillstream loaches to tell apart from its plainer relatives.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Saddle-back loach is a peaceful, shoaling 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Saddle-back loach need?

A Saddle-back loach needs at least 45 gal (170 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Saddle-back loach need?

A Saddle-back loach is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does a Saddle-back loach get?

An adult Saddle-back loach reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does a Saddle-back loach need a group?

Yes. A Saddle-back loach is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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