Nemacheilus selangoricus
Summary
Scientific name: Nemacheilus selangoricus (Duncker, 1904)
Common name: Kuiper's Loach, Fighting Loach
Synonyms: Nemachilus selangoricus, Nemacheilus kuiperi
Distribution: Malay Peninsula from Trang in Thailand to Singapore, Sabah in North Borneo and Belitung Island, also Indonesia.
Sexual Dimorphism: Not known
Maximum size: 2.25 inches (6 cm)
Similar to: Other Nemacheilus
Care: The aquarium should have a decent flow rate and be well-oxygenated. A substrate of fine sand to allow digging and lots of smooth rounded pebbles and numerous shelters such as bogwood and slate. Reasonably bright lighting to simulate the shallow stream beds in which they are found.
Feeding: Most foods accepted. Commercial sinking formulations and bottom-dwelling live-foods. Frozen foods such as Bloodworm, Brine shrimp, Daphnia, Cylops. Very greedy and several will indulge in a feeding "frenzy".
Water parameters: pH: 6.0-7.5 Hardness: Soft-medium Max dh: 12
Temperature: 71.6ºF to 78.8 ºF (22-26°C)
Breeding: None reported in aquarium
N. selangoricus with faded stripes
Credit: Brian Lynch
Notes
This is a relatively peaceful loach, but is reported as participating in fights
with its own kind. They will live reasonably peacefully with one another, but
defend a chosen niche in the rockwork. Sometimes fish will lay side by side and
engage in a kind of tail-slapping, body banging type of fighting. Basically a
trial of strength. A German website even mentions that there are a series of
scales above and below the lateral line on the caudal peduncle that swell when
two do battle. A lively and entertaining fish possessing remarkable agility
and speed.
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