Loaches

53 freshwater aquarium species in the loaches group, including Banded mountain loach, Bengal loach and Blyth's loach. 32 have a full care profile with tank size, temperature, pH and temperament, compared in the table below.

Loaches care compared

SpeciesAdult sizeMin. tankTemperaturepHTemperamentCare
Banded mountain loachAcanthocobitis urophthalmus5 cm (2 in)210 L (55 US gal)20–25.5°C (68–78°F)6.0–7.5PeacefulModerate
Bengal loachBotia dario15 cm (5.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)23–28°C (73–82°F)6.5–7.5Aggressive–
Blyth's loachSyncrossus berdmorei11 cm (4.3 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)6.5–7.5AggressiveModerate
Clown loachChromobotia macracanthus50 cm (20 in)210 L (55 US gal)24–30°C (75–86°F)5.0–7.5PeacefulModerate
Coolie loachPangio kuhlii10 cm (3.9 in)40 L (11 US gal)24–30°C (75–86°F)5.5–6.5Peaceful–
Dwarf botiaYasuhikotakia sidthimunki5 cm (2 in)115 L (30 US gal)25–30°C (77–86°F)6.5–6.9PeacefulModerate
Hillstream loachGastromyzon punctulatus6.5 cm (2.6 in)75 L (20 US gal)23–25°C (73–77°F)7.0PeacefulDifficult
Horseface loachAcantopsis choirorhynchos20 cm (7.9 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–29°C (77–84°F)6.0–7.0Peaceful–
Pond loachMisgurnus anguillicaudatus30.5 cm (12 in)115 L (30 US gal)10–25°C (50–77°F)6.0–8.0PeacefulModerate
Redtail botia / Blue botiaYasuhikotakia modesta15 cm (5.9 in)285 L (75 US gal)24–27°C (75–81°F)6.5–8.0Aggressive–
Reticulate loachBotia lohachata15 cm (5.9 in)–22–27.7°C (72–82°F)6.5–7.5PeacefulModerate
Skunk botiaYasuhikotakia morleti10 cm (3.9 in)110 L (29 US gal)26–30°C (79–86°F)6.0–8.0––
Stone loachBarbatula barbatula25 cm (9.8 in)115 L (30 US gal)10–18°C (50–64°F)7.0–7.7PeacefulDifficult
Tiger loachSyncrossus hymenophysa21 cm (8.3 in)210 L (55 US gal)25–30°C (77–86°F)6.5–7.0Aggressive–
Zebra loachBotia striata8 cm (3.1 in)–23–26°C (73–79°F)6.0–8.0–Moderate
Aborichthys elongatus7.6 cm (3 in)75 L (20 US gal)21–25.5°C (70–78°F)6.5–7.5PeacefulModerate
Aborichthys kempi8 cm (3.1 in)75 L (20 US gal)21–25.5°C (70–78°F)6.5–7.5PeacefulModerate
Acanthocobitis rubidipinnis8 cm (3.1 in)190 L (50 US gal)20–25.5°C (68–78°F)6.5–7.5PeacefulModerate
Beaufortia kweichowensis10 cm (3.9 in)110 L (29 US gal)20–24°C (68–75°F)7.0–8.0Peaceful–
Botia kubotai8.5 cm (3.3 in)110 L (29 US gal)24–28°C (75–82°F)6.8–7.5Peaceful–
Gastromyzon ctenocephalus4.5 cm (1.8 in)75 L (20 US gal)18–24°C (64–75°F)7.0PeacefulDifficult
Homaloptera ogilviei5 cm (2 in)75 L (20 US gal)20–25°C (68–77°F)6.5–7.5AggressiveEasy
Homaloptera orthogoniata13 cm (5.1 in)115 L (30 US gal)21–24°C (70–75°F)6.0–6.5PeacefulDifficult
Homaloptera zollingeri10 cm (3.9 in)115 L (30 US gal)21–24°C (70–75°F)6.0–6.5PeacefulDifficult
Liniparhomaloptera disparis disparis8 cm (3.1 in)115 L (30 US gal)20–25°C (68–77°F)6.4–7.5AggressiveEasy
Mesonoemacheilus triangularis5.8 cm (2.3 in)115 L (30 US gal)20–26°C (68–79°F)7.0–7.5Semi-aggressiveEasy
Pseudogastromyzon cheni6 cm (2.4 in)210 L (55 US gal)22–24°C (72–75°F)6.5–7.5PeacefulDifficult
Schistura balteata5.3 cm (2.1 in)115 L (30 US gal)23–26°C (73–79°F)6.0–7.5Semi-aggressiveEasy
Schistura mahnerti6.4 cm (2.5 in)115 L (30 US gal)23–26°C (73–79°F)6.0–7.0Semi-aggressiveEasy
Schistura similis7 cm (2.8 in)115 L (30 US gal)18–25°C (64–77°F)7.0–7.5PeacefulEasy
Sinibotia pulchra9 cm (3.5 in)115 L (30 US gal)20–24°C (68–75°F)7.0–8.0AggressiveEasy
Vaillantella maassi12.5 cm (4.9 in)115 L (30 US gal)22–26°C (72–79°F)6.5–7.2Semi-aggressive–

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