Spotted garra
Garra spilota
Also known as Panda garra relative
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–79°F
- 20–26°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.5 in
- 9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Chindwin headwaters, Myanmar
Overview
The spotted garra is a bottom-dwelling grazer for a river tank, kept much like the familiar panda garra. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
The spotted garra is the panda garra's plainclothes cousin, with the same rivers and the same manners. It wears speckles where the panda garra wears a tuxedo.
Caring for the spotted garra
Set up a river tank of at least 29 gal (110 L), with strong flow and stone to graze. The spotted garra rasps biofilm off rock, so a mature tank matters.
Keep the water clean and cool-leaning, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, with real current. Supplement its grazing with algae wafers and sinking foods.
A spotted garra can live alone or in a group. If you keep a group, make it five or more, large enough that no single fish takes all the perches. It is mildly territorial with its own kind but harmless to other fish.
Good to know
The spotted garra, Garra spilota, is dark-blotched over olive. Like other garras, it has a modified lower lip that forms an adhesive disc. The disc lets it hold onto rock in fast water while it grazes.
In the wild
The spotted garra comes from the headwater streams of the Chindwin in Myanmar. It lives in cool, fast, well-oxygenated water over stone.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotted garra 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.
Bonita tetra
Moenkhausia bonita
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Striped panchax
Aplocheilus lineatus
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
Creek loach
Schistura beavani
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Costae tetra
Moenkhausia costae
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Redfin halfbeak
Nomorhamphus ebrardtii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Prionotos cory
Scleromystax prionotos
Freshwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted garra need?
A spotted garra needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a spotted garra need?
A spotted garra is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
What does a spotted garra eat?
A spotted garra rasps biofilm off rock. Give it algae wafers and sinking foods as well.
How big does a spotted garra get?
An adult spotted garra reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Panda garra
Garra flavatra
3.5 in (9 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Peacock-tail garra
Garra poecilura
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Congo garra
Garra congoensis
3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Kwai garra
Garra fluviatilis
3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Ornate garra
Garra ornata
4.3 in (11 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)Lamta garra
Garra lamta
4.7 in (12 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)