Spotted garra
Garra spilota
Also known as Panda garra relative
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
- Origin
- Chindwin headwaters, Myanmar
- Family
- Cyprinidae
Overview
A garra kept like the familiar panda garra: current, stone to graze and a group large enough that no single fish takes all the perches. Keep five or more in a 110 liter river tank with cool-leaning water and strong flow. It rasps biofilm off rock, so a mature tank matters, and it should be supplemented with algae wafers and sinking foods. Mildly territorial with its own kind but harmless to others.
In the wild
Garra spilota comes from the headwater streams of the Chindwin in Myanmar, in cool, fast, well-oxygenated water over stone. Keep it at 20 to 26 degrees Celsius and pH 6.5 to 7.5, with real current and clean water.
Good to know
Garra spilota reaches about 9 centimeters, dark-blotched over olive. Garra have a modified lower lip forming an adhesive disc that lets them hold onto rock in fast water while grazing. It is closely related to the panda garra from the same drainage country, which is why care is nearly identical.
Did you know
It is the panda garra's plainclothes cousin, same rivers and same manners, in speckles instead of the tuxedo.
Tank mates
Spotted garra is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Creek loach
Schistura beavaniFreshwater3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Maharaja barb
Puntius sahyadriensisFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Chinese banded loach
Schistura fasciolataFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)Vietnamese flower loach
Traccatichthys taeniatusFreshwater5 in (12.6 cm)29 gal (110 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)
Northern mountain swordtail
Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotlFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Prionotos cory
Scleromystax prionotosFreshwater2.4 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 do Spotted garra need?
Spotted garra are comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
How big do Spotted garra get?
An adult Spotted garra reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Aquatic Arts Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with an arrive-alive guarantee
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Spotted garra?
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Planning tankmates
See how Spotted garra fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
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Related species
Panda Garra
Garra flavatraFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Peacock-tail garra
Garra poeciluraFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Congo garra
Garra congoensisFreshwater3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Kwai garra
Garra fluviatilisFreshwater3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Ornate garra
Garra ornataFreshwater4.3 in (11 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Lamta garra
Garra lamtaFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)64–77°F (18–25°C)