HomeFreshwater aquarium fishLoachesSchistura mahnerti Schistura mahnerti Scientific name: Schistura mahnerti Kottelat, 1990 Schistura mahnerti is a freshwater fish of the family Balitoridae that grows to about 6.4 cm (2.5 in). It is easy to keep and semi-aggressive and needs a tank of at least 115 L (30 US gal), water at 23–26°C (73–79°F) and a pH of 6.0–7.0. Native range: Asia, Salween basin in Thailand. Schistura mahnerti care at a glanceCare levelEasyTemperamentSemi-aggressiveAdult size6.4 cm (2.5 in)Minimum tank115 L (30 US gal)Temperature23–26°C (73–79°F)pH6.0–7.0Hardness2–9 dGH (36–161 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts frozen foods and live foods. BiologyDorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal soft rays: 8. Distinguished by its color pattern with up to 17 bars, the anterior ones being vertically split, the posterior ones widely spaced, as wide or wider than interspaces and not forming a stripe; processus dentiformis present; 9+8 branched caudal rays; 8 1/2 branched dorsal rays; males with a suborbital flap; complete lateral line; axillary pelvic lobe present; lateral head length 22.3-24.3% SL; depth of caudal peduncle 12.7-14.6% SL.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSchistura mahnertiFamilyBalitoridae (River loaches)OrderCypriniformes (Carps)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length6.4EnvironmentFreshwater; benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Salween basin in Thailand.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More loachesPseudogastromyzon cheniBeaufortia kweichowensisLiniparhomaloptera disparis disparisHillstream loachGastromyzon punctulatusBotia kubotaiSinibotia pulchraSee all loaches SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026