Animal-World > Aquarium Tropical Fish > Hillstream Loaches > Rainbow Loach

Rainbow Loach

Beautiful Hillstream Loach, Mountain Loach

Family: BalitoridaeTraccatichthys pulcherPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

   Though sometimes they can be rather plain looking, if you obtain a colorful Rainbow Loach specimen it is truly a spectacular eye catcher!

   The Rainbow loach has a greenish gray coloring which can have a brown to reddish brown cast to it. The stomach is yellow and there is a distinctive black spot at the base of the tail. The top fin is short but high and there are three pairs of barbels. The fins and tail are light and 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 rocks and driftwood. A moderate amount of plants can be a nice addition.

   Hillstream Loaches often enjoy the company of their own kind as well as other community fish. Though generally peaceful with their tank mates some species have been known to nip occasionally. Usually this is just among themselves. It is recommended that they be kept in groups of at least three, with larger groups of five to seven acclimating easier than smaller groups.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Geographic Distribution Traccatichthys pulcher Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes Family: Balitoridae

Care and feeding:    Since they are omnivorous, the Rainbow 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 a fine or medium gravel that does not have sharp edges.

Distribution:    The Rainbow Loaches are found in China, in the Guangdong Province and Hainan Island.

Size - Weight:    These fish can reach up to about 4 - 4 3/4" (10 - 12 cm) though it is usually smaller in the aquarium.

Social Behaviors:       A good community fish, they will tolerate other tank mates as well as enjoy other members of their own species. They tend to be shy and it is recommended that they be kept in groups of at least three, with larger groups of five to seven acclimating easier than smaller groups.

Sexual Differences:    Unknown

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:    These fish are mostly bottom dwellers.

Acceptable Water Conditions:    Hardness: to 5 - 18° dH
   Ph: 6.5 - 7.5
   Temp: 72 - 77° F (22-25° C)

Breeding/Reproduction:    They are not yet bred commercially.

Availability:    The Rainbow Loach is occasionally available.

Author: Clarice Brough. CFS.

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