Panda Garra

About

Found in fast-flowing streams in Myanmar, Garra flavatra entered the hobby around 2005 and quickly built a following thanks to its vivid banding and lively personality. It goes by several trade names including panda garra, clown garra, and banded butterfly garra, and is sometimes mislabeled as a loach. Color intensity varies noticeably between individuals, with some fish showing particularly rich yellows and reds, though whether this reflects population differences or simple individual variation isn't fully understood. Like other garras, it possesses a modified lower lip that forms an adhesive disc, which it uses to hold position on rocks and surfaces in moving water. A neat adaptation you'll see in action in a well-filtered aquarium. It's a generally peaceful fish but does have a territorial streak, particularly toward others of its own kind. Keeping a group of three or four tends to spread that tension around and results in calmer tankmates overall; a single fish kept alone often becomes scrappier with similarly shaped species. When hierarchy gets sorted out, expect some fin-flaring and chasing. It's also an active, somewhat skittish fish that can jump, so a secure lid is not optional. Commercial breeding has been established in Myanmar since 2008, so captive-bred stock is often available. A good intermediate-level choice for a stream-biotope setup with strong flow and plenty of smooth rocks.