TankBud

Silverbelly loach

Nemacheilus argyrogaster

Also known as Silver-belly stone loach

FreshwaterFish

Silverbelly loach (Nemacheilus argyrogaster)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
24 gal
90 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Nemacheilidae
Origin
Xe Kong drainage, southern Laos

Overview

The silverbelly loach is a peaceable stone loach for the floor of a warm tank with brisk flow. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The silverbelly loach's genus name appears in quotation marks in the paper that first described it. Even its describer was unsure where it belongs. This freshly named loach is still waiting for a settled place on the family tree.

Caring for the silverbelly loach

The silverbelly loach is new to science and newer to the hobby, so its keeper notes are still being written. Copy its wild stream closely, with a floor of rounded stone and gravel, some structure and moderate to strong current. Run strong filtration to keep the water clean, oxygen-rich and moving. A tank of 24 gal (90 L) or more suits a small group.

Keep the water warm, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Feed sinking meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm and daphnia, along with sinking pellets, and check that they reach the bottom.

It is sociable and mostly peaceful, and it does fine alone or in a group. Keep a few together with calm midwater companions that suit warm, flowing water, and watch how the group behaves. There is no record of it breeding in an aquarium.

Good to know

The silverbelly loach, Nemacheilus argyrogaster, is a member of the family Nemacheilidae that Maurice Kottelat described in 2021. Its name comes from Greek roots meaning silver belly, for its bright, silvery-white underside. A bold black stripe runs along its flank, with a row of thin saddles above it.

In the wild

The silverbelly loach was found in the Xe Kong system of southern Laos, a large tributary of the Mekong. It lives in moderate to fast water over pebble and stone.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The silverbelly 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a silverbelly loach need?

A silverbelly loach needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a silverbelly loach need?

A silverbelly loach is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a silverbelly loach eat?

A silverbelly loach eats sinking meaty foods such as frozen bloodworm and daphnia, along with sinking pellets. Make sure the food reaches the bottom.

How big does a silverbelly loach get?

An adult silverbelly loach reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

Related species