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Salween Hillstream LoachRed Tail Zebra Loach - Red-tail Sand LoachBurmese Border Loach ~ Burmese-border Sand LoachFamily: Balitoridae 
The Salween Hillstream Loach or Red Tailed Zebra Loach is a very attractive fish, especially with the beautiful red coloration on its tail!The Salween Hillstream Loach or Red Tailed Zebra Loach is native to Asia, specifically the Salween basin in Thailand, and though 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 Salween Hillstream 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. 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:
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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 Salween Hillstream Loaches are found in Asia;
from the Salween basin in Thailand.
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.
Comments from people who have kept this fish:
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 passiné:)"______ c'est un poisson vraiment fascinant bien que assez territorial,il est magnifique de le regarder avec des congeneres!il est assez xalme appart quand il veux monter sur les renfort de l'aquarium ou aller dans le filtre exterieur^^.Si vous avez l'occasion d'en acheter n'hesitez pas! Kiss-kOol,un passiné:)
Author: Clarice Brough. CFS.
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