Nemacheilus petrubanarescui

About

Found in rocky, fast-moving streams of India's Western Ghats, Mesonoemacheilus petrubanarescui is a small nemacheilid loach that rarely exceeds two inches in length. It can be identified by a series of seven or eight dark, saddle-shaped markings along the back and broken, narrowing bars along the flanks. A pattern that sets it apart from close relatives like M. guentheri, which carries rows of yellowish, dark-edged spots instead. In practice, you're unlikely to find this species intentionally stocked at your local fish store. It occasionally slips into shipments alongside M. guentheri or M. triangularis, the two genus members exported with any real frequency, so sharp-eyed hobbyists sometimes turn up a specimen by happy accident. In the aquarium it is relatively peaceful with its own kind and genuinely benefits from being kept in a group of four or more. Solitary individuals tend to stay hidden. Tankmates work best when chosen from small, open-water cyprinids or rheophilic loaches like Sewellia or Beaufortia rather than similarly-shaped nemacheilids, which can cause friction. Despite its reclusive nature it is considered a reasonable choice for beginners, and its modest size means a smaller tank can work well. Breeding has not been recorded in captivity.