Edit Paracanthocobitis zonalternans

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Name

Scientific name

Paracanthocobitis zonalternans

Described by

Authority Blyth, Year 1860

Family

Nemacheilidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 8 credited

Summary

Paracanthocobitis zonalternans is a nemacheilid loach ranging from Manipur in India through Myanmar into western and peninsular Thailand. S…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

78mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–25°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

2–10dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Ayeyarwady, Brahmaputra, Chindwin, Mae Klong, Salween, Sittaung, Tapi

Writing

Etymology

Paracanthocobitis: from the Greek παρά (para), meaning ‘close beside,’ and the genus Acanthocobitis from the Greek ἄκανθος (ákanthos), meaning ‘thorned’, in re…

Distribution

This species' known range extends southwards from the Indian state of Manipur (Brahmaputra River system) through Myanmar (including the Chindwin, Ayeyarwady, S…

Habitat

Recorded to inhabit a range of biotopes from headwaters to larger river channels and is said to show a preference for shallow riffles with pebbly substrates (K…

Aquarium size

A tank with base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm is big enough to house a small group.

Maintenance

Will do well in most well-maintained aquaria provided sufficient cover is available, and should not harm softer-leaved plants. However we recommend keeping it …

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Probably a micropredator feeding on insect larvae and suchlike in nature. Singer and Page (2015)[9] report that stomach contents examined during their study we…

Behaviour and compatibility

Among the more peaceful members of the genus and an excellent addition to communities of small, stream-dwelling fishes. Good tankmates include peaceful schooli…

Among the more peaceful members of the genus and an excellent addition to communities of small, stream-dwelling fishes.

Good tankmates include peaceful schooling or shoaling cyprinids plus rheophilic loaches such as Gastromyzon, Pseudogastromyzon, Beaufortia or Sewellia spp., and less territorial nemacheilids.

Stream-dwelling gobies from genera including Sicyopterus, Stiphodon, Rhinogobius and Lentipes can also make interesting additions to this kind of community. Territorial or otherwise aggressive bottom-dwellers are less suitable companions.

It does best in the presence of conspecifics and should be kept in a mixed sex group comprising at least half a dozen specimens, preferably 10 or more.

This will allow you to observe some interesting social interactions and the formation of a hierarchy between males. While rivals can be aggressive towards one another this shouldn't become problematic in a well-structured set-up.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

Describe what you saw, or which part of the source says this.

Sexual dimorphism

Dominant males of some populations develop yellow to reddish orange colouration in the finnage, around the mouthparts and sometimes in the anterior portion of …

Reproduction

Several successes have now been recorded but the first was by UK aquarist Mick Wright who obtained his specimens from fellow fishkeeper Andy Rushworth. Andy ha…

Notes

Paracanthocobitis zonalternans differs from all other species of Paracanthocobitis by the combination of incomplete lateral line ending before or near dorsal-f…

References

9 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References