All fish / Botiidae

Pulchra Loach

Sinibotia pulchra

Also known as pulchra loach, beautiful loach, botia pulchra, pulchripinnis loach, tiger loach, banded loach, ボティア・プルクラ, 美丽沙鳅, 美丽华沙鳅

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This is a stocky loach with a pointed snout and a golden to olive body. Irregular dark bars run across it, and its fins carry spots or bands. Keepers like it because it is active and full of character, it eats nuisance snails, and it suits cooler subtropical tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

18 to 25 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, snails and some vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern China (Pearl River basin) and northern Vietnam

Breeding

It has not been bred in home aquariums as far as anyone knows. Fish sold in the trade are wild caught or come from hormone-induced farm spawning.

Good to know

Within the group it squabbles noisily, and it can bully slow or timid tankmates, so give it plenty of caves. It prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water with good flow, and it will wipe out ornamental snails.