All fish / Cyprinidae

Panda Garra

Garra flavatra

Also known as panda garra, yellow-banded garra, burmese panda garra, rainbow garra, ガラ・フラバトラ, 熊猫鲮

A small hill-stream cyprinid with a dark body broken by yellow to orange bands and a tail tipped with red or orange. It grazes busily over rocks and glass with its sucker-like mouth, making it a lively, attractive algae browser for flowing-water setups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

20 to 25 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Omnivore: biofilm and algae, sinking pellets and wafers, blanched vegetables, bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (Rakhine Yoma hill streams)

Breeding

It scatters eggs and has been bred in captivity only rarely, mainly through commercial farms. Home spawning is uncommon and poorly documented.

Good to know

Needs clean, well-oxygenated water with good flow and a tight lid, as it can climb and jump. Individuals squabble over territory, so keep a group with plenty of rocks to break sight lines.