Edit Mesonoemacheilus triangularis
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Name
Scientific name
Mesonoemacheilus triangularis
Described by
Authority Day, Year 1865, Bracketed
Family
Nemacheilidae
Common names
Zodiac Loach
Photograph credits
All 11 credited
Summary
The zodiac loach, Mesonoemacheilus triangularis, is a loach from the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in southern India. Also called …
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
60mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 75 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 18–25.5°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
2–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
India, Manimala
Writing
Etymology
Mesonoemacheilus: from the Greek meso, meaning 'half', nema, meaning 'thread, filament', and cheilos, meaning 'lip', in reference to the relatively less deeply…
Distribution
The type locality is given by Day as 'the hills at Mundikyum' which appears to correspond to the small town now known as Mundakayam, in Kottayam District of Ke…
Habitat
Inhabits clear, well-oxygenated, headwater streams and minor rivers. These are often shaded by surrounding forest cover with the substrate normally composed of…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with a base measuring at least 75 ∗ 30 cm is recommended.
Maintenance
Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions; we strongly recommend keeping it in a tank designed to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substr…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Mesonoemacheilus species are omnivorous although the bulk of their diet consists of small insects, worms, crustaceans and other zooplankton with only relativel…
Behaviour and compatibility
This species can apparently exhibit contrasting behaviour in captivity with some aquarists reporting it to be peaceful while others claim it to be territorial …
Sexual dimorphism
Adult females are likely to grow slightly larger and be rounder-bellied than males when gravid. Males have a small suborbital flap and may develop thickened pe…
Reproduction
A single success was reported by an American aquarist in 2004. An adult pair was removed from a community set-up containing several loach species and introduce…
Notes
This species is also referred to by the alternative vernacular name 'Batik loach' and is relatively common in the aquarium trade. It's easily-distinguished fro…
References
References
13 on this profile