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Species profile

Splendid Loach

Yasuhikotakia splendida

Common names: Splendid Loach

Recognized speciesLoaches
Splendid Loach (Yasuhikotakia splendida)

Adult size

Up to 15 cm

Typical adult length 10.5–15 cm.

Up to 15 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Laos

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • Keepers able to provide at least a 120 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 120 cm or cannot support the recommended social group.
  • Ornamental snails, dwarf shrimp, timid fish, or long-finned tankmates are important parts of the aquarium.

Splendid Loach is a bottom-dwelling loach requiring a 120 cm or longer aquarium, suitable substrate, stable water, and species-appropriate social housing.

Appearance and Identification

A strong-bodied loach with a pale base colour, bold dark bars and blotches, and warm colour in the fins.

Rare in the trade and likely to be assertive with similar bottom-oriented 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 720–900 litres an hour
Suggested heater
About 175–275 W for this tank
Minimum tank volume
180 litres
Minimum tank length
120 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 120 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

Splendid 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
23–28 °C
pH
6–7.8
GH
3–15
KH
1–10
TDS
60–260
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
25.5 °C
Breeding pH
6.9
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 Splendid 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, Laos, Southeast Asia
Natural habitat
Freshwater River, River, Sand/Mud Substrate
Aquarium contexts
Freshwater Aquarium, Large Freshwater Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
Audience level
Advanced

Classification

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

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Spotted Coolie Loach

Pangio muraeniformis

Care level
Intermediate
Adult size
7–10 cm
Minimum tank
100 litres
Temperature
24–28 °C

Stone Loach

Barbatula barbatula

Care level
Intermediate
Adult size
10.5–15 cm
Minimum tank
180 litres
Temperature
8–22 °C

Sucking Loach

Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

Care level
Advanced
Adult size
19.6–28 cm
Minimum tank
400 litres
Temperature
22–28 °C

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