Dr. Pridi's Loach

About

Dr. Pridi's Loach (Schistura pridii) is a small but bold fish from the fast-moving hill streams of Thailand's Chao Phraya drainage, where it picks its way through rocky crevices and gravel beds at elevations close to 1,000 meters. Despite a maximum length under two inches, it carries a lot of personality. The yellow body is crossed by four dark bars that run as saddles along the back, each containing a rounded yellow spot, giving the fish a patterned, almost reptilian look. It belongs to Schistura, the most species-rich genus of nemacheilid loaches, which has expanded enormously since the 1990s and now numbers well over 190 described species. In the aquarium this species has a reputation for being territorial with other bottom-dwellers, so it is best not paired with anything that competes for the same hiding spots. Interestingly, it does seem more settled when kept alongside its own kind, provided the tank offers enough cover and broken sightlines to spread out aggression. Midwater fish like small danionins make good tankmates. Though it turns up in the trade only sporadically and carries an endangered status in the wild, it is not especially demanding to keep, making it a manageable choice for a hobbyist willing to plan its social setup thoughtfully. Breeding has not been documented in captivity.