Scientific name: Schistura rupecula (McClelland, 1838 )
Common name: Stone Loach (in Nepal)
Synonyms: Nemacheilus rapicola, Nemachilus rupecola, Noemacheilus rupecola rupecola, Nemacheilus rupecula, Noemacheilus rupecola, Nemacheilus rupecola, Nemacheilus rupicola, Noemacheilus rupicola, Nemachilus rupicola (last 3 are all misspellings)
Distribution: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Vietnam, Indonesia
Sexual Dimorphism: None known
Maximum size: 2.5 Inches (6.7 cm)
Similar to: Other Schistura
Care: Found in shallow, gently flowing clear streams/creeks and riffles, over gravel or pebbles. The aquarium should have a decent flow rate and be well-oxygenated. The rest of the aquarium should have smooth rounded pebbles and sand or fine grained gravel with reasonably bright lighting to simulate the shallow stream beds in which they are found. Please see Hillstream Loaches: Specialists at Life in the Fast Lane for a more detailed explanation.
Feeding: Most foods accepted. Commercial sinking formulations and bottom-dwelling live-foods. Frozen foods such as Bloodworm/Brine shrimp.
Water parameters: pH: 6.0-7.5 Hardness: Soft-medium. Max dh: 12.
Temperature: 68ºF to 77 ºF (18-25°C)
Breeding: Not known in aquaria.
Notes: Schistura rupecola is somewhat different from many others of the family in being rather elongated and serpentine.
Caption: Schistura rupecula
Credit: Heok Hee Ng
LARGER FORMAT PICTURE AVAILABLE LINKED TO ORIGINAL PROFILE