Edit Yaoshania pachychilus

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Name

Scientific name

Yaoshania pachychilus

Described by

Authority Chen, Year 1980, Bracketed

Family

Balitoridae

Common names

Panda Loach

Photograph credits

All 24 credited

Summary

The panda loach, Yaoshania pachychilus, is a balitorid loach from headwater streams draining the Dayao Mountain in Guangxi, southern China.…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

60mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Very high: hillstream or torrent

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 15.5–24°C, pH 6.5–7.5

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Territorial

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

China, Gui, Liu, Zhu

Writing

Etymology

Yaoshania: named for the Dayaoshan, the mountain from where the type species was discovered.

Distribution

Officially known only from a handful of headwater tributary streams draining the Dayao Mountain (Dayaoshan) in Jinxiu County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,…

Officially known only from a handful of headwater tributary streams draining the Dayao Mountain (Dayaoshan) in Jinxiu County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China.

There are just three confirmed localities of which two drain into the Liu River (Liujiang) and one the Gui River (Guijiang), themselves both north bank tributaries of the much larger Pearl River (Zhujiang) system.

It remains unclear if the fish in the aquarium trade are collected from one of the above, one of which lies within a protected forest park, or there exist undisclosed, additional locations though the latter possibility appears likely (Z. Hang, pers. comm.).

The IUCN currently list it as 'Least Concern' but a report by Kong et al. (2008) suggests the overall population to be small and habitats under threat of degradation from dam construction, loss of water quality and the use of electrofishing and ichthyotoxins.

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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

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Habitat

A demersal species restricted to shallow, seasonal, fast-flowing, headwaters and minor tributaries characterised by stretches of riffles and runs broken up by …

Aquarium size

A tank with base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm is big enough to house a small group. Though often marketed as such, this species isn't suitable for tiny 'nano' aqua…

Maintenance

Most importantly the water must be clean and well-oxygenated so we suggest the use of an over-sized filter as a minimum requirement. Turnover should ideally be…

Water conditions

Temperature: Its natural waters lie in a humid, subtropical region where air temperatures rarely drop below 60°F/15.5°C and may be much higher in summer. For g…

Diet

Much of the natural diet is likely to be composed of benthic algae plus associated micro-organisms. In captivity it will accept good-quality dried foods and me…

Behaviour and compatibility

Not an aggressive fish although its environmental requirements somewhat limit the selection of suitable tankmates. Species inhabiting similar habitats in natur…

Sexual dimorphism

Undocumented as far as we're aware but larger, heavier-bodied individuals are likely to be female.

Reproduction

Unrecorded in captivity and little is known of its natural reproductive cycle.

Notes

Juvenile specimens were first exported for the aquarium hobby during 2009 and have since been available on a sporadic basis with prices generally reflecting it…

References

5 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