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Red Tail Zebra Loach

Burmese-border Sand Loach, Salween Hillstream Loach

Family: BalitoridaeSchistura mahnertiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

The Red Tailed Zebra Loach is a very attractive fish, especially with the beautiful red coloration on its tail!

The Red Tailed Zebra Loach Schistura mahnerti is also referred to as the Salween Hillstream Loach. It is native to Asia, specifically the Salween basin in Thailand. Although it is quite pretty it is not always readily available. This loach has a few other common names besides the two already mentioned, such as Red-tail Sand Loach, Burmese Border Loach, and Burmese-border Sand Loach. The challenge is knowing which loach is which, as these names are also used for other members in the loach families.

The Red Tailed Zebra Loach has a bold zebra type patterning of dark vertical bands encircling a light golden to silverish body. The bands are wider across the top and narrow as they reach the mid-section and encircle the bottom. In between them are additional thin dark bands starting just above the mid-section. There is a strong red coloring on the tail and pectoral fins.

These are Hillstream Loaches, meaning they come from cool fast-moving streams. Like other river loaches they are especially designed to cope with living in fast waters. The Salween Hillstream Loach 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.

Burmese-border Sand Loaches, like other 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 this Red Tailed Zebra Loach be kept in groups of at least three, with larger groups of five to seven acclimating easier than smaller groups.

For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see:
Freshwater Aquarium Guide: Aquarium Setup and Care

Care and feeding: Since they are omnivorous, the Salween Hillstream Loach or Red Tailed Zebra 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 large grain sand or fine gravel that does not have sharp edges.

Distribution: The Red Tailed Zebra Loach Schistura mahnerti is found in Asia; from the Salween basin in Thailand. Other common names it is known by are Burmese-border Sand Loach, Salween Hillstream Loach, Red-tail Sand Loach, and Burmese Border Loach.

Size - Weight: This fish can reach from about 3 inches (7.6 cm).

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 - 6.9
Temp: 73 - 79° F (23-26° C)

Breeding/Reproduction: They are not yet bred commercially, though there are reports of them being bred in Thailand

Availability: The Salween Hillstream Loach or Red Tailed Zebra Loach is only occasionally available.

References

• Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
• Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 1, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1991
• Dr. R{uuml}diger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 4 , Mergus Verlag (June 30, 2004)
• Mark in Vancouver, Schistura mahnerti, Loaches Online, 2009
• Schistura mahnerti (Kottelat, 1990), Fishbase.org
• Bratz Walker, Sharks and Loaches, T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1974

Author: Clarice Brough CFS

Lastest Comments on Red Tail Zebra Loach View all 2 comments on Red Tail Zebra Loach Add Your Comment

Erin - 2010-01-01 Hello..., About a year ago, I purchased two pale little loaches that came in as contaminants in a shipment of other fish. Being a loach enthusiast, I recognized them as something different, but was not able to ID them right away. By the following day, after placing them in QT, they had coloured up so much I scarcely recognized them, displaying many dark stripes and a red tail. This became especially apparent when I dropped food in the tank, and was then able to identify them as Schistura Mahnerti. They ate ravenously at first, and "caught" their food in a lively and entertaining way. None of the food reached the bottom of the tank. As the food was floating down, they would jump into the mid water column and do loop-de-loops to catch it. For the first while, these two fish were very social with eachother and could be seen playing and resting together. They are now adults, and have reached a size of about 2.5" each. Their colouration is spectacular with their dark stripes and red tails, though one has become significantly darker than the other. Even though I have them in a 4-ft, 55 Gallon tank, there are occasional territorial squabbles, the latest resulting in a 2mm wound in the side of the lighter-coloured fish. However, the two Schistura are very friendly towards the other fish and loaches, sharing their underlog territories with kuhli, pepper, and weather loaches. Each fish has claimed a log on opposite sides of the tank, spending most of the day resting there and darting out occasionally to look around or to eat. I would not classify this as a social fish with those of its own kind, though it can be tolerant and even friendly with other species. If another injury results, I will have to consider splitting them up. Other than that, this fish has been an interesting and entertaining addition to my loach community. I would reccommend it to those who can provide clean water with reasonable flow. At least 4ft. of space, and even more I would recommend for more than one individual. I am planning on upgrading to a 75 Gallon, and will see if the increase in width of the tank will make a difference in their territorial skirmishes, though I have a feeling it is the length that makes the difference. Be sure to provide a secluded territory for each fish. Reply

Kiss-Kool - 2006-09-24 Editors note: (Translated from French to English for your reading pleasure!) "It is a fish really intriguing although that rather territorial, it is splendid to look at it with congeneres! it is enough xalme appart when he please take up reinforcement of the aquarium on or go to the filter exterieur ^^. If you have opportunity to buy it hesitez no! Kiss-kOol, a passin Reply

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