Amongst the many species* of loach (mainly the genera Nemacheilus and Schistura, but there are more genera) that exist in India, one in particular has proven itself as an aquarium fish: Nemacheilus corica. There are many reasons for this: it remains small (5-6 cm), is peaceful, looks nice, eats all common ornamental fish foods, is lively and very adaptable. In short: it is the ideal bottom fish for Indian tanks, but can of course also live in multi-culti community tanks.
It is native to the hilly landscapes at the foot of the Himalayas in Nepal, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Here it inhabits a wide variety of rivers and streams. Because the distribution area is in the subtropics, temperatures are subject to seasonal fluctuations. Accordingly, N. corica does not normally need heating in the indoor aquarium, as it is well adapted to temperatures between around 14°C and 26°C. However, it goes without saying that no sudden temperature changes should be brought about, as this can lead to illness and, in the worst case, death of the fish.
It is easy to tell the sexes apart in this small loach, but only when it is an adult. The easiest way to do this is from a top view, then you can see the much larger pectoral fins of the male. When viewed from the side, the female appears stockier and much fuller. The pictures in this post show a pair, so you can easily see the differences.
N. corica has probably not yet been bred in the aquarium, but breeding should not be a real problem if you want to. Nemacheilus species are usually free spawners without brood care, the eggs develop in the gap system of gravel. The spawning season is in the rainy monsoon months, i.e. our summer through to October, when there is heavy rainfall along the Himalayas.
*Numbers are difficult to give, 172 species have been described so far, but there are still many undescribed species and in many cases it is unclear whether the described species are good species or synonyms.
For our customers: the animals have 438202 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
