TankBud

Vietnamese flower loach

Traccatichthys taeniatus

Also known as Striped flower loach, Vietnamese peppermint loach

FreshwaterFish

Vietnamese flower loach (Traccatichthys taeniatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–77°F
18–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
5 in
12.6 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Nemacheilidae
Origin
Northern Vietnam, Laos and southern China

Overview

The Vietnamese flower loach is an active, sociable loach for the bottom of a cool, flowing tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The Vietnamese flower loach is often sold in the trade as the peppermint loach. The name comes from the cool green sheen over its flanks, above red-tinted fins. Few stream loaches wear such lively colors.

Caring for the Vietnamese flower loach

Give the Vietnamese flower loach a tank of 29 gal (110 L) or more. It grows to a good size and stays on the move, so it needs room to cruise. Lay an open floor of sand and water-worn cobbles, with rounded stones, roots and shaded gaps for cover.

Keep the water on the cool side, at 64 to 77°F (18 to 25°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Give it real water movement, steady flow and good oxygen, since it colors up best in clean, brisk water. It is a greedy feeder that takes sinking worms, pellets, frozen bloodworm and chopped foods.

The Vietnamese flower loach is mostly peaceful and does best as a small group. A group stays busy near the bottom and interacts all day without real aggression. Keep it with other calm, current-loving fish. It has not been bred in the aquarium hobby.

Good to know

The Vietnamese flower loach, Traccatichthys taeniatus, is a stone loach of the family Nemacheilidae. It grows larger than many of its relatives. Its species name means banded and refers to the dark stripe along its flank. It is the striped counterpart to the tubercled flower loach of southern China.

In the wild

The Vietnamese flower loach ranges through streams of northern Vietnam into Laos and southern China. It lives in cool to mild flowing water over stone.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Vietnamese flower 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 Vietnamese flower loach need?

A Vietnamese flower loach needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Vietnamese flower loach need?

A Vietnamese flower loach is comfortable at 64–77°F (18–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Vietnamese flower loach eat?

A Vietnamese flower loach is a greedy feeder. It takes sinking worms, pellets, frozen bloodworm and chopped foods.

How big does a Vietnamese flower loach get?

An adult Vietnamese flower loach reaches about 5 in (12.6 cm).

Related species