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Burmese Border Loach
Ambastaia nigrolineata
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Cypriniformes›Botiidae
📍 Salween River, Myanmar–Thailand border
Close relative of the Dwarf Chain Loach with dark horizontal stripes. Active and social bottom-dweller that loves company.
Care Guide
Diet
Burmese Border Loaches are omnivores that require a varied diet of high-quality sinking pellets, algae wafers, and regular supplements of frozen foods like bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once daily, only what they can consume in a few minutes. They will also graze on algae and biofilm in the tank, helping to keep it clean.
Behavior
These are active, social bottom-dwellers that are most active during dawn and dusk, spending much of their time foraging along the substrate and exploring crevices. They are peaceful and gregarious, requiring a minimum school of 5 individuals to feel secure and exhibit natural behaviors. They may hide during the day but become more visible and interactive in established tanks with plenty of cover.
Breeding
Breeding Burmese Border Loaches in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely documented in the hobby. They require very specific water conditions, seasonal temperature fluctuations, and large tank space to trigger spawning behavior. Most specimens in the aquarium trade are wild-caught, and successful captive breeding is not a realistic goal for most hobbyists.
Tank Mates
Similar size, peaceful temperament, and compatible water parameters; both are bottom-dwellers that don't compete
Small, peaceful mid-water fish that won't compete with loaches; similar temperature and pH requirements
Peaceful invertebrates that occupy different ecological niches; may be preyed upon if loaches are very hungry
Provides natural substrate cover and foraging opportunities without competing for space
Peaceful dwarf cichlid with similar temperature needs; may occasionally compete for bottom space but generally compatible
Small, peaceful schooling fish that occupy mid-water zone; compatible water chemistry and temperature
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against objects, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use ich medication as directed; ensure good water quality and reduce stress
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin loss in severe cases
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, remove any sharp tank décor, use antibacterial medication if severe; ensure adequate filtration
Bacterial Infections
Open sores, ulcers on body, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, lethargy
Perform daily 25-50% water changes, maintain pristine water conditions, use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication; quarantine if possible
Parasitic Infections
Excessive scratching, visible parasites, weight loss, clamped fins, lethargy
Use anti-parasitic medication as directed, increase aeration, perform frequent water changes; quarantine affected fish if possible
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- diet
- omnivore
- maxSize
- 2.5 inches
- minTankSize
- 20 gallons
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C