All fish / Vaillantellidae

Fork-tailed loach

Vaillantella maassi

Also known as forktail loach, fork tail loach, long-finned loach, maass's loach, vaillantella loach, forked tail loach, バイランテラ・マーシ, 叉尾鳅

A slender, eel-like loach with a very long, low dorsal fin running most of its back and a deeply forked tail, coloured light brown with darker bars or blotches. It is kept by loach enthusiasts as an unusual, shy bottom dweller for soft-water forest stream setups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

5.5 to 7

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 3 or more

Diet

Carnivore: bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp, small sinking pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Sumatra and Borneo (Indonesia), possibly Peninsular Malaysia

Breeding

There are no reliable reports of captive breeding, and trade fish are wild-caught.

Good to know

Very shy and nocturnal, so it needs fine sand, plenty of cover and a tight lid, as it can escape through small gaps. Avoid boisterous or aggressive tankmates that outcompete it for food.