Edit Vaillantella maassi
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Name
Scientific name
Vaillantella maassi
Described by
Authority Weber & de Beaufort, Year 1912
Family
Vaillantellidae
Common names
Fork-tailed Loach
Photograph credits
All 7 credited
Summary
The fork-tailed loach, Vaillantella maassi, is a loach from Sumatra, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand. Traded as 'chocolat…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
125mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Low: still or sluggish water
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 23–29°C, pH 3.5–7.2
Hardness
1–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Batang Hari, Endau, Kampar Kiri, Kapuas, Sai Buri, Tapi, Terengganu
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Described from the Kampar Kiri River system, central Sumatra, Indonesia and since recorded from the Batang Hari drainage a little further south on the island, …
Habitat
Most commonly found in relatively shallow, marginal sections of forest streams. Many of these are associated with ancient peat swamps and contain black water a…
Aquarium size
Minimum base dimensions of 120 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent are recommended although a single specimen could be housed in something smaller.
Maintenance
If the intention is to keep more than a single specimen the hard décor should be arranged in such a way that each fish can form its own territory (see 'Behavio…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Essentially a micropredator which in nature extracts insect larvae, small crustaceans and suchlike from the substrate, and though it will usually learn to acce…
Behaviour and compatibility
Among the more reclusive loaches and will rarely be seen during daylight hours. Fishes from similar environments that occupy the upper part of the water column…
Sexual dimorphism
Adult females are likely to be noticeably thicker-bodied and probably larger than males, but no other external differences have been reported as far as we know.
Reproduction
Unreported in aquaria and little-to-nothing is known of this species' natural life history.
Notes
This species is traded under various names including 'chocolate scissor-tailed loach', chocolate long-finned loach', 'red line cobra loach', 'spiny eel loach' …
References
References
11 on this profile