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Torrent LoachLizard Loach, Gecko LoachFamily: Balitoridae Homaloptera bilineataPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs Be the first to add a comment! The Torrent Loach Homaloptera Bilineata is really handsome, but a rare find to the aquarist!Torrent Loach Contents The Torrent Loach Homaloptera Bilineata is just one of several species in the Homaloptera genus that is known as a Torrent Loach. Being as handsome as it is, it will hopefully become more available and earn a common name. These fish are also commonly known as a Lizard Loach and Gecko Loach. As a fish becomes more familiar, someone will eventually dub it with its own name, and once coined, that will become its common name. And of course, sometimes a fish will end up with numerous common names! The loaches in the Homaloptera genus have been known as Torrent Loaches, and sometimes referred to as 'gecko' or 'lizard' fish, because of being especially designed to cope with living in fast waters. They come from cool fast-moving, often torrential streams, and are able to cling to various surfaces. There are several in this genera that are more common to the aquarist such as the Saddle Back Loach or Clown Torrent Loach Homaloptera orthogoniata. or the Clown Torrent Loach. Similar to the other Torrent Loaches, the Homaloptera Bilineata, has a brownish red background coloring. It has strong dark, rather blotchy markings running horizontally along the top, from the dorsal fin through the tail fin. It is similar to the Saddle Back Loach H. orthogoniata which also has a pair of dark stripes running through the eyes and back around the dorsal fin, but from here the black markings vary. These two loaches differ in that the markings around the dorsal fin on the Saddle Back spread down lower giving it more of a 'saddle' appearance. The H. bilineata Loaches will do best in a cooler "river" type aquarium with good water movement, subdued lighting, and regular water changes. Provide a fine gravel or sand substrate that does not have sharp edges. Be sure to provide plenty of hiding and resting places created with round river type rocks and driftwood. A moderate amount of plants can be a nice addition but leave a large open area for swimming. They are peaceful community fish and enjoy other less aggressive tank mates. They also enjoy the company of their own species and are best kept in a group of five to seven, with the suggested minimum being three. For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see: |
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Care and feeding: Since they are omnivorous, the Homaloptera Bilineata Loach will generally eat all kinds of live foods, sinking pelleted and tablet foods, flakes, and algae. They like frozen foods as well. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake or tablet food everyday. Feed mosquito larvae, brine shrimp (either live or frozen), tubifex, daphnia, and some vegetable foods such as algae wafers.
This fish will do well in a larger aquarium (ideally 30 gallons or so) with good water movement, subdued lighting, and places for retreat such as rocks, caves, and roots. They do best in soft to medium, slightly acidic water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. The substrate used can be sand or small gravel that does not have sharp edges.
Distribution: The Torrent Loach Homaloptera Bilineata is found in in Asia. It is also sometimes referred to as a Lizard Loach or Gecko Loach.
Size - Weight: These fish can reach up to about 2 1/2 - 4" (6.25 - 10 cm).
Social Behaviors: A good community fish, they are peaceful and will do well with non-aggressive tank mates as well as enjoy other members of their own species. It is recommended that they be kept in groups of at least 3, with larger groups of five to seven being ideal.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom: These fish are mostly bottom dwellers.
Acceptable Water Conditions: Hardness: soft to moderately hard, 2 - 12° dH
Ph: 6.5 - 7.0
Temp: 68 - 78° F (22 - 26° C)
Breeding/Reproduction: They are not yet bred commercially.
Availability: The Homaloptera bilineata Loaches are only rarely available.
- Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
- Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 1, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1991
- Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 2, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1993
- Martin Thoene, Homaloptera bilineata, Loaches Online, 2009
- Homaloptera bilineata (Blyth, 1860), Fishbase.org
- Bratz Walker, Sharks and Loaches, T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1974
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