Loaches Online Forum

Is there any loaches beside clown loach and some hillstream loaches which can be bred in aquarium? How come there are very few records of them being breed in aquarium despite their popularity and availability?

Clown loaches have yet to be bred in an aquarium - at least none that produced live fry have been documented.

These are all river fish, and many come from areas with seasonal flooding. The water chemistry, temperature, flow (etc) is subject to change as the rivers rise or fall. The aquarium is a fairly static environment, so this is the primary reason.

It also appears that many loaches need to be of a significant size and age before they are sexually mature - and you could be talking about 20 years old in some cases.

I'd also say that despite their availability, many people who keep them do not even try to simulate their natural environment in the tank.

Some brook loach species have also been bred in captivity, those that spring to mind are Mesonoemacheilus triangularis, Acanthocobitis botia, Acanthocobitis zonalternans, Schistura cf. balteata & Schistura nicholsi.

Emma