Sichuan golden loach

Sinibotia reevesae

Also known as Reeves' golden loach, Chinese reevesae loach

FreshwaterFish

Sichuan golden loach (Sinibotia reevesae) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 64–77°F (18–25°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 4.3 in (11 cm)
Minimum tank: 37 gal (140 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Tankmates: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Tuo River drainage, Sichuan, China
Family: Botiidae

Overview

Keep several together with cool-water company like white clouds or hillstream loaches scaled to its size. Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, and snails cover the menu. A subtropical tank, not a tropical one, is the difference between surviving and settling in.

In the wild

Known from the Tuo River system in Sichuan, this loach lives in temperate flowing water. It wants the same setup as its Guangxi cousin: cool 18 to 25 degrees Celsius, strong oxygenation, stone and sand, pH 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

Sinibotia reevesae reaches about 11 centimeters and is one of the more range-restricted Chinese botiids, recorded from a limited stretch of the upper Yangtze system. Barring runs gold over dark olive, bolder in juveniles.

Did you know

Its home in Sichuan puts it closer to pandas than to any coral reef; this is a loach for keepers who think room temperature is a feature, not a compromise.