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Species profile

Green Tiger Loach

Syncrossus hymenophysa

Common names: Green Tiger Loach

Recognized speciesLoaches
Green Tiger Loach (Syncrossus hymenophysa)

Adult size

Up to 25 cm

Typical adult length 17.5–25 cm.

Up to 25 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Indonesia
  • See all stock from Malaysia
  • See all stock from Myanmar

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • Keepers able to provide at least a 180 cm aquarium with the substrate, current, and cover this loach needs.
  • A mature aquarium where bottom-feeding fish receive targeted food and regular maintenance.

Think carefully if

  • The aquarium is shorter than 180 cm or cannot support the recommended social group.
  • Ornamental snails, dwarf shrimp, timid fish, or long-finned tankmates are important parts of the aquarium.

Green Tiger Loach is a bottom-dwelling loach requiring a 180 cm or longer aquarium, suitable substrate, stable water, and species-appropriate social housing.

Appearance and Identification

A long, powerful loach with an olive-green to yellow-brown body, numerous dark tiger bars, and reddish fins.

An assertive predatory botiid unsuitable for delicate community fish.

External sexing is unreliable in juveniles. Mature females are usually deeper-bodied and fuller through the abdomen, while males may remain slimmer.

Tank Requirements

Suggested filter
About 1,600–2,000 litres an hour
Suggested heater
About 400–600 W for this tank
Minimum tank volume
400 litres
Minimum tank length
180 cm
Minimum group size
5
Recommended group size
6
Activity level
High
Flow preference
Moderate
Planting preference
Moderately planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
High

Keep a social group in an aquarium at least 180 cm long with a broad floor area, smooth sand or fine rounded gravel, strong filtration, wood, caves, and several shaded retreats. Maintain open routes between shelters and use a secure lid.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Green Tiger Loach is an active, intelligent social loach. Group members establish a hierarchy through chasing, clicking, side-by-side contests, and brief displays. A group that is too small can focus pressure on one fish.

Keep at least 5, preferably 6 or more. Do not keep a single specimen as a substitute for providing enough space.

Not permanently territorial, but dominant fish may control favourite caves or feeding positions. Provide more shelters than fish.

Use robust, similarly active tankmates that cannot be swallowed and do not have long delicate fins. Avoid ornamental snails, dwarf shrimp, very timid fish, and cramped groups of other bottom dwellers.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
24–30 °C
pH
6–7.5
GH
1–10
KH
0–6
TDS
30–180
Stability importance
Important

Maintain stable, clean water within the stated range. Oxygenation, low organic waste, and gradual acclimation are more important than forcing an exact pH or hardness value.

Parameter caveat
Match the supplier water during acclimation and change temperature or mineral content gradually. Rare wild-caught loaches may arrive adapted to narrower conditions than the general range suggests.

Feeding

Diet types
Insectivore, Omnivore, Scavenger
Feeding frequency
Daily
Preferred foods
  • Quality sinking omnivore pelletsUse as the daily staple and spread portions across the bottom.
  • Frozen insect larvae and crustaceansOffer bloodworm, Artemia, mysis, or similar foods in suitable portions.
  • Snails and shelled invertebratesUse occasionally for natural foraging; do not depend on pest snails as the complete diet.

Feed a varied sinking omnivore diet with quality pellets, frozen or live invertebrates, and occasional vegetable foods. Spread food across the aquarium so every member of the group can feed without crowding.

These loaches are enthusiastic feeders and can become overweight. Feed measured portions and check that shy individuals receive food.

Breeding

Breeding type
Egg Layer, Egg Scatterer
Breeding difficulty
Difficult
Breeding temperature
27 °C
Breeding pH
6.8
Brood or egg count
Potentially hundreds to several thousand eggs in large mature females; reliable aquarium counts vary.
Incubation
1 days
Parental care
None
Baby foods
  • Infusoria or cultured microscopic foodUse when newly free-swimming fry are too small for Artemia.
  • MicrowormsIntroduce once fry actively search the bottom.
  • Newly hatched Artemia naupliiUse after fry are large enough to swallow nauplii.

Routine home-aquarium breeding of Green Tiger Loach is uncommon. Botiid loaches are seasonal egg scatterers with no parental care, and commercial production of some species relies on carefully managed conditioning and induced spawning. Adults may eat eggs, so any natural spawn must be separated or protected.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin
Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Southeast Asia
Natural habitat
Freshwater River, River, Sand/Mud Substrate
Aquarium contexts
Freshwater Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium, Very Large Freshwater Aquarium
Audience level
Advanced

Classification

Profile type
Recognized species
Genus
Syncrossus
Family
Botiidae
Species group
Fish, Loaches

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Care level
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Adult size
17.5–25 cm
Minimum tank
300 litres
Temperature
23–28 °C

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Care level
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Adult size
2.8–4 cm
Minimum tank
45 litres
Temperature
22–27 °C

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Care level
Advanced
Adult size
14–20 cm
Minimum tank
300 litres
Temperature
20–27 °C

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Care level
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Adult size
14–20 cm
Minimum tank
300 litres
Temperature
20–27 °C

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