Hasselt's Loach Care Guide
Lepidocephalichthys hasselti is a slim peaceful cobitid loach from Southeast Asia, a sand-sifting bottom dweller of slow shallow waters.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Lepidocephalichthys hasselti is a small cobitid loach with a slim, elongated body and barbels around the mouth. Named after the Dutch naturalist Johan Coenraad van Hasselt, it is a quiet bottom dweller that, like its relatives, is a facultative air-breather able to gulp atmospheric oxygen.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cobitidae
- Genus: Lepidocephalichthys
- Scientific name: Lepidocephalichthys hasselti (Valenciennes, 1846)
Habitat
The species ranges across mainland and island Southeast Asia, from Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam south through Peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra, Borneo and Java. FishBase reports it from slow-moving shallow waters, canals and floodplains with muddy substrates, where it feeds largely on zooplankton.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 5-12 °dGH
- Group size: 4 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
An omnivore with a low trophic level (about 2.7 per FishBase), it feeds on zooplankton, small invertebrates and detritus sifted from soft substrate. In aquaria it takes sinking pellets and frozen or live foods such as bloodworm, offered around twice daily.
Compatibility
It is peaceful and best kept in small groups over fine sand that supports natural sifting. Asian cyprinids make suitable companions; aggressive species should be avoided to prevent stress to this retiring bottom-dweller.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2019). The species is widespread and shows high resilience with low fishing vulnerability.
Hasselt's Loach (Lepidocephalichthys hasselti) Breeding Guide
Overview
Lepidocephalichthys hasselti is a member of the family Cobitidae, the true loaches. According to Seriously Fish, it inhabits shallow, slow-moving sections of streams and calmer habitats such as swamps, oxbows, backwaters and paddy fields across Southeast Asia and Indonesia. It is chiefly a micropredator that sifts mouthfuls of substrate through the gills to extract insect larvae and small crustaceans. Aquarium spawning of this species has not been documented.
Sexing
Sexual dimorphism is documented. Males develop enlarged pectoral fins in which the fused, thickened innermost rays (the seventh and eighth) form a structure known as the lamina circularis, appearing as a small, rounded flange-like projection. Females are typically heavier-bodied and slightly larger than males, and tend to show spotted patterning on the flanks rather than a dark stripe.
Conditioning
As a substrate-sifting micropredator, the species accepts sinking foods and small live or frozen prey such as Daphnia, Artemia and bloodworm. A varied diet of these foods supports adult condition. A fine sand substrate allows natural sifting behaviour, which is important for general health of conditioned adults.