Mahnert's Stone Loach Care Guide
Schistura mahnerti is a patterned stone loach from the Salween basin in Thailand, an active, territorial bottom fish that needs caves and current.
Overview
Schistura mahnerti is a stone loach of the family Nemacheilidae, with an elongated body marked by vertical bars. It is an active, territorial bottom-dweller of fast streams, defending a chosen cave or shelter against rivals.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nemacheilidae
- Genus: Schistura
- Scientific name: Schistura mahnerti Kottelat, 1990
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Salween basin in Thailand. It is a freshwater, benthopelagic stone loach of tropical fast-flowing streams with rocky or pebble substrate, where it shelters among stones and crevices.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 20-26 °C (68-79 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.8
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Water flow: high, well-oxygenated
- Maximum size: about 6.4 cm
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
Diet
It is a carnivore (trophic level about 3.0 per FishBase) feeding on small invertebrates. In aquaria it takes live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp, along with sinking prepared feeds offered around twice daily.
Compatibility
It is semi-aggressive and territorial, so provide ample caves and broken lines of sight. Suitable companions are robust hillstream loaches and fish that tolerate strong current; slow-water species should be avoided.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2011).