Edit Ambastaia nigrolineata

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Name

Scientific name

Ambastaia nigrolineata

Described by

Authority Kottelat & Chu, Year 1987

Family

Botiidae

Summary

The black-lined loach, Ambastaia nigrolineata, is a botiid loach from the Mekong drainage in southern China and Laos, and the Nan River in …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

80mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 90 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 20–25°C, pH 6.5–7.5

Hardness

5–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries

China, Laos, Thailand

Supporting text

Etymology

Ambastaia: Named for Ambastai, a river in Ptolemy’s (ca. 90-168) Geographikê Hyphêgêsis (Handbook of Geography) that is today considered to be the Mekong. nigr…

Distribution

Described from the Lancang Jiang (Lancang River - the Chinese name for the Mekong River) close to the settlement of Menghanzhen, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunn…

Habitat

The type locality is described as a 'small creek with sandy bottom and moderate current' and this species has also been recorded from stretches of riffles in c…

Aquarium size

For long-term maintenance an aquarium with base measurements of 90 ∗ 30 cm36 ∗ 12 in or equivalent should be the smallest considered.

Maintenance

All botiids need a well-structured set-up although the actual choice of décor is more-or-less down to personal taste. A natural-style arrangement could include…

Water conditions

Temperature: This species is said to tolerate relatively low temperatures but for general care a range of 20 – 25 °C68 – 77 °F is recommended. pH: 6.5 – 7.5 Ha…

Diet

While Ambastaia spp. appear to be chiefly carnivorous by nature they will also eat vegetative matter if available, often including soft-leaved aquatic plants. …

Behaviour and compatibility

This species is quite mild in temperament and can make an excellent community addition. That said slow-moving or long-finned fishes are best omitted with activ…

This species is quite mild in temperament and can make an excellent community addition. That said slow-moving or long-finned fishes are best omitted with active, pelagic cyprinids such as many Devario, Rasbora, 'Puntius', and some Danio spp. representing more suitable tankmates.

It's also proven to coexist peacefully with the majority of Botia spp. and in very large tanks, Chromobotia macracanthus, but not the more aggressive botiids such as Syncrossus or most Yasuhikotakia spp.

Some cobitid and nemacheilid loaches are also possibilities as are members of Epalzeorhynchos, Crossocheilus, and Garra and many catfishes. As always, thorough research prior to selecting a community of fishes is the best way to avoid potential problems.

Ambastaia spp. are gregarious, form complex social hierarchies and should be maintained in groups of at least 5 or 6 specimens, preferably 10 or more.

When kept singly they can become withdrawn or even aggressive towards similarly-shaped fishes, and if only a pair or trio are purchased the dominant individual can stress the other(s) to the extent that they stop feeding.

That said they seemingly require regular contact with conspecifics, a fact exemplied by a number of behavioural rituals which have been recorded consistently in aquaria (see 'Notes').

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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 profileFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Sexual dimorphism

Sexually mature females are normally fuller-bodied and grow a little larger than males, while adult males develop slightly elongated snouts plus noticeably fle…

Reproduction

Unrecorded.

Notes

This specie is relatively rare in the aquarium trade and much sought after by enthusiasts as a result. It looks similar to its only congener A. sidthimunki but…

References

13 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References