All fish / Serpenticobitidae

Eight-banded Loach

Serpenticobitis octozona

Also known as eight banded loach, 8 banded loach, octozona loach, serpenticobitis loach, dwarf banded loach, octozona, セルペンティコビティス・オクトゾナ, 八带沙鳅

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This is a tiny loach with a slim, sandy brown body crossed by about eight dark bands and orange-tinted fins. Keepers like it because it stays very small, is active by day and suits peaceful nano or community tanks with a sandy bed and moving water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and biofilm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mekong River basin in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia

Breeding

It has not been bred reliably in home aquariums. Wild fish probably scatter their eggs in flowing streams, and all the fish on sale are wild-caught.

Good to know

It needs clean, well-oxygenated water with some current and soft sand to sift through. It is sometimes confused with small Botia or Syncrossus species, which grow much larger and are more boisterous.