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
Origin: Xe Kong drainage, southern Laos
Family: Nemacheilidae

Overview

House this loach as you would its relatives: moderate to strong current, a floor with stones and structure, and sinking meaty foods. It is sociable and peaceable, so keep a few together with calm midwater companions that suit warm, flowing water. Being new to science and newer to the hobby, its keeper notes are still being written, so copy its wild stream closely and watch how the group behaves. Feed sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, and daphnia that reach the bottom. A tank of around 90 liters or more, warm and briskly filtered, suits a small group.

In the wild

The silverbelly loach was found in the Xe Kong system of southern Laos, a large tributary of the Mekong, in moderate to fast water over pebble and stone. Recreate that with a floor of rounded stone and gravel, brisk current, and good oxygen. Keep it warm at 22 to 26 degrees Celsius with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Clean, oxygen-rich, moving water suits it, so run strong filtration and keep the flow up.

Good to know

Nemacheilus argyrogaster was described by Maurice Kottelat in 2021 and reaches about 8 centimeters. Its name comes from Greek roots meaning silver belly, for the bright, silvery-white underside set off by a bold black stripe along the flank and a row of thin saddles above. Kottelat placed it in Nemacheilus only provisionally, flagging that its true relationships still need work. It belongs to the family Nemacheilidae, with no recorded aquarium breeding.

Did you know

Even its describer was unsure where it belongs: the genus name appears in quotation marks in the original 2021 paper, a signal that this freshly named loach is still waiting for a settled place on the family tree.

Tank mates

Silverbelly loach is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.