Chain loach



Scientific Name(s): Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki

Common Name(s): Dwarf loach, Chain loach, "Sid"

Origin: Southeast Asia

Family: Cobitidae

Species Type: loach

Maximum Size: 2 in/5 cm

Life Span: 10 years

Natural Habitat: Rivers and muddy lakes of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Diet: Small frozen and prepared foods. Small pellets, flake and live foods.

Temperature: 75-82° F (24°-28° C)

pH: 6.0-7.5

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Tank Region: Bottom. They will occasionally swim in the middle to upper portions of the tank.

Temperament: Sids are very peaceful fish. They do best in a group with a minimum of six fish.

Possible Tank Mates: They do well in species tanks and/or with smaller schooling fish with a similar temperament.

Filtration and Setup: No special filtration is required for these fish but their water should be kept very clean. They will do well in a planted tank.

Coloration: They are silver/white with black markings on their back which resembles a chain (hence “chain loach”). They also will have slight gold markings on their heads above the eyes. Females are often plumper while the males are more slender.

Breeding: Sids require soft acidic water (pH between 6.0 to 6.5) for spawning. The female scatters her eggs on the bottom and the male follows behind to fertilize the eggs. Breeding is rare in captivity and is often triggered by hormone treatments. The chances of breeding these fish seem to increase as the size of the group increases.