All fish / Botiidae

Chain Loach

Syncrossus berdmorei

Also known as berdmore's loach, blyth's loach, orange finned loach, berdmorei loach, syncrossus beauforti, botia berdmorei, ปลาหมูอารีย์, ボティア・ベルドモレイ, 伯德莫尔沙鳅

A large, robust loach with a pale yellowish body crossed by dark bars and rows of spots, with orange tinted fins. It is kept for its lively group behaviour and its taste for pest snails in big community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

400 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, snails, bloodworm, shrimp and vegetables

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar and western Thailand (Salween, Sittaung and Irrawaddy basins)

Breeding

It has not been bred in home aquariums, and fish in the trade come from the wild or from hormone-induced farm spawning.

Good to know

The name Syncrossus beauforti is often applied to this fish in the trade, but the true S. beauforti is a different Mekong species, so check the source of your fish. This loach grows big and can be boisterous, so keep it with sturdy tankmates.