Zodiac loach

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep it singly, as a compatible pair, or in a dense group of 10 or more in a tank of 90 litres or more, at 20 to 26 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5, since middling numbers lead to bickering. It is an omnivore that takes sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp. It can be territorial and a little fin-nippy, so choose active, robust tankmates rather than slow or long-finned fish.

In the wild

A boldly marked stone loach of about 6 cm covered in a maze of dark, worm-like lines that give it the zodiac and batik names. It comes from cool, well-oxygenated hill streams and wants brisk flow, clean water and a rocky, sandy bottom that mimics a river bed. A tight lid is important, as it will jump.

Good to know

It belongs to the stone loach family Nemacheilidae and was long known as Nemacheilus triangularis before being moved to Mesonoemacheilus. Each fish carries a slightly different scribbled pattern, so no two look quite alike.

Did you know

The intricate scribbled pattern is unique to each individual, a bit like a fingerprint.

Related species

• 

  Barred loach

  Nemacheilus fasciatus

  3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
• Zipper loach

  Paracanthocobitis botia

  3.9 in (10 cm)29 gal (110 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
• Sumo loach

  Schistura balteata

  3.1 in (8 cm)24 gal (90 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
• Cross loach

  Micronemacheilus cruciatus

  1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
• Rosy loach

  Petruichthys sp. 'rosy'

  1.2 in (3 cm)14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

• 

  Macmaster's dwarf cichlid

  Apistogramma macmasteri

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)