Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Hillstream Loaches > Mongoose Loach

Mongoose LoachLizard Loach

Family: Balitoridae

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Nemacheilus rueppelliPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

     Because they are able to cling to various surfaces in fast moving waters, the Mongoose Loach is sometimes called a Lizard Loach!

     The Mongoose Loach has an attractive pattern over a silver to light golden background. The patterning consists of dark spots on the the head back to about the pectoral fins. It then becomes dark bands along the rest of the body, through the tail, and on the dorsal fin. The bands between the pectoral and dorsal fin and the bands before the tail are interspersed with short vertical stripes.The fins are translucent.

     These are Hillstream Loaches, meaning they come from cool fast-moving streams. They will do best in a cooler "river" type aquarium kept with good water movement and subdued lighting. Provide a large grain sand or small gravel substrate. 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.

     The Mongoose Loach is a peaceful community fish and enjoys the company of other non-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 more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Care and feeding:      Since they are omnivorous, the Mongoose 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 can to be sand or small gravel that does not have sharp edges.

Distribution:      The Mongoose Loaches are found in in Asia; India.

Size - Weight:      These fish can reach up to about 5" (12.5 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 recommended.

Sexual Differences:      Unknown

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: 65 - 75 ° F (18 - 25 ° C)

Breeding/Reproduction:      There have been reports that some species of Hillstream Loach will breed in pits dug under rocks in a 'river' type environment, but they are not yet bred commercially.

Availability:      The Mongoose Loaches are occasionally available.

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