Comments: This is a Premium Pet Fish, and we never see Premium Fish like this in any of the live fish stores or in the online stores that we visit.
Premium Pet Fish are more energetic, hardier, and have brighter colors with a beautiful metallic sheen.
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Origin: These Loaches are caught in the jungles in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam in Southeast Asia, but they now live in aquariums throughout the world.
Maximum Size: In aquariums Redtail Loaches can grow to be about 9.5" long, including their tails. Rarely very old females are even bigger.
Behaviors: Redtail Loaches are active swimmers and quarrel gently with each other but are rarely aggressive.
Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include Barbs, Rainbowfish, Danios, Gouramis, and many other small to medium size aquarium fish.
Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.
Temperature: They live well from about 75 to 80 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 78 degrees F.
Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.
Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes when very small and small and Premium Pellet Food when larger.
Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.
Water Conditions: Redtail Loaches seem to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.
Probably a pH of about 6.5 with moderate hardness is best.
Most water in the US has a higher pH and is harder but seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.
Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8.
We ship them in this water.
Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.
Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 30-gallon aquarium, when they're less than 3" long, but a bigger aquarium is almost always better for the fish.
Allow at least 3-gallons of water for each Redtail Loach under 3" long.
They grow at a moderate rate and at about 3" should move into a 40 to 60-gallon aquarium.
Eventually they'll need to live in a much bigger aquarium with 100 to 200-gallons of water.
Decor: Redtail Loaches do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.
Click here for more about aquarium gravel.
Live Plants are beautiful and improve the water quality.
Redtail Loaches seem to do better in aquariums with live plants.
Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.
A Penguin 200B Filter in an aquarium with 30-gallons of water is OK to start with a few Redtail Loaches that are less than 3" long.
At 3" long Redtail Loaches should move into a 40 to 60-gallon aquarium with a Penguin 350B Filter, and eventually a much larger aquarium with 150 to 250-gallons of water and as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit along the back edge of the aquarium.
Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.
The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.
Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.
Life Span: Redtail Loaches can live in excess of 20-years, provided they're fed premium food and kept in a very large aquarium with very fresh water.
Gender: As they mature females become larger and plumper than males, who are raised in the same group.
Breeding: There've been a few reports of Redtail Loaches spawning in aquariums, but it's rare.
There are reports that very small fry of this fish are collected and raised up by fish farmers.
Not exactly breeding them but the next best thing.
Popularity: Redtail Loaches are popular aquarium fish.
Names: The scientific name of the Redtail Loach is Yasuhikotakia modesta.
But there may be several closely related species that look very similar and are available under this name .
Variations: There are distinct populations, living across a wide region in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Some scientists believe there may be separate species or subspecies or just variations.
We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.
Pet Fish are Cool
All of our fish are Premium Quality Fish from the best suppliers in the world. Our fish have better health, more energy and brighter colors, as you can see in our pictures on this website.
We have 380-aquariums with lots-and-lots of popular aquarium fish plus lots-and-lots of rare fish!
We consider ourselves to be the link between the world's best sources of fish and the world's best customers. We love our work, and we are very responsible about caring for our fish and then shipping them carefully.
We also offer lots and lots of information about keeping and caring for pet fish, all from the knowledge of the Bailey Brothers, who have a combined total of 100+ years of experience as breeders, wholesalers, and retailers of pet fish!
Our fish and our customers are treated with the best of care, and we work energetically everyday to make sure every customer enjoys their new fishy friends.
When you purchase pet fish from us, you know you're receiving premium quality fish and premium quality service.
"Received my fish last night and was so pleased! They all arrived alive and appeared to be healthy.
"Once in the tank, they became very active and are now thriving in their new home.
"Beautiful fish, I asked for color and aquariumfish delivered. Processing and shipping was extremely quick."
Nevin and DrTom, the Bailey Brothers
This website is owned and operated by the Bailey Brothers, DrTom and Nevin, who've been together in the fish business for more than 50-years.
The Product Manager has been with the company for more than 35-years.
So we feel very confident that this is the fishiest crew anywhere.