Data sheet checkerboard loaches

German name:
checkerboard loaches

Scientific name:
Yasuhikotakia sidthmunki

Origin:
Asia (Thailand)

Size:
4-8cm

Aquarium

Length:
at least 80 cm

Contents:
from 100 liters

water values

Temperature:
25-30ºC

pH:
6.0 – 7.0

GH:
2 – 15 °dGH

CH:
11-13, soft to medium hard

Behave

Area:
Below

Lining:
Live, frozen, granulated and flake food, molluskivor – snail and mussel eaters, also vegetable food

Behave:
Schooling behavior, social group fish, peaceful

Number:
Group housing with at least 5 animals

Difficulty level:
experienced

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checkerboard loaches, Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki, are peaceful and very lively fish. you are from Thailand and China. you will be 5 to 10 centimeters tall. 8 to 10 centimeters is the normal total length that they can reach with good care. Unfortunately, they usually do not grow old enough, so that the length is often given as only 5 centimeters. About 7 centimeters are probably a realistic average value.

The closely related Yasuhikotakia nigrolineata from Yunnan and Laos reaches its total length of 8 – 10 cm much faster. It can grow 12 centimeters long.

The species affiliation of individual animals from mountain streams with a length of approx. 15 centimeters is still unclear. In general, maximum sizes of loaches are still completely insufficiently documented because record-breaking animals are very difficult to catch.

An aquarium for checkerboard loaches must be at least 80 centimeters To be long. If other fish species are also kept in the tank, the edge length should be at least 100 centimeters. 5 animals can be kept in a 200 liter aquarium. It is better to keep more than 10 animals in a correspondingly sized aquarium. Checkerboard loaches are social group animals. They do not show any pronounced swarming behavior, but mostly oscillate here, there, in twos or threes around the tank in search of food.

They are not quite as hiding place oriented as clown loaches. However, they also generally live rather hidden and prefer dense plant thickets and smaller shelters. They sometimes move in pairs into caves and shelters. They also stay in the open water area again and again, where they are often out and about as a swarm.

Checkerboard loaches are about 15 years old.

Especially in the beginning they swim around fast and are hectic. Sometimes they follow other fish over long distances. They sniff other fish, but don’t hurt them. However, certain species of fish do not like sniffing either.

Over time, checkerboard loaches calm down a bit. But at least when they are fed, they bring life and disturbance to an aquarium.

Checkerboard loaches eat a lot. They are fast and effective eaters. They eat food on the surface, in the water and on the bottom.

Checkerboard loaches eat the breathing tubes of apple snails. The apple snails then die.

Checkerboard loaches tend to be soft water animals that require slightly acidic pH levels. However, they also do well in medium-hard and slightly alkaline water. The water can therefore be soft to medium hard.

Suitable water values:

Targeted and planned breeding is not known. As with clown loaches, there are random breedings every now and then. Most animals on the market are therefore wild-caught.

Food for checkerboard loaches

Diet is not a problem. They eat any dry and frozen food. They probably eat vegetables too.