{"product_id":"dwarf-chain-loach-ambastaia-sithimunki","title":"Dwarf Chain Loach | Ambastaia sidthimunki","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Dwarf Chain Loach is a pocket-sized botia patterned in a neat chain of dark spots along a golden body — busy, playful and unusually peaceful for a loach. Topping out at around 6 cm, it is one of the very few loaches genuinely suited to a smaller planted tank, and it happily hunts pest snails as a bonus. It is a true social animal that must be kept in a group.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the Mae Klong basin of Thailand and neighbouring parts of the region, where it lives in clear, well-oxygenated flowing streams and rivers over sand, gravel and leaf litter. Wild populations have declined sharply, so nearly all fish in the trade today are commercially bred.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA slim, torpedo-shaped little loach with a bright silvery-gold base broken by a bold chain-link pattern of black blotches running the length of the body and into the dorsal. Fins are largely clear. The sexes are hard to tell apart, though well-fed females look a little rounder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful, active and endlessly social. Kept singly or in twos and threes it becomes shy and stressed, so keep a group of six or more to see its natural darting, chasing play and to spread out any minor squabbling. It mixes beautifully with most peaceful community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn easy omnivore that feeds along the bottom. It readily takes quality sinking pellets, flake and granules, and relishes live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp. It will also pick at small pest snails, though it should never be relied on to feed itself on those alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a soft sand or smooth fine-gravel substrate to protect its delicate barbels and belly, plenty of hiding places among wood, rock and plants, and clean, well-oxygenated water with steady flow. It is sensitive to poor water quality and dissolved waste, so keep on top of water changes. Like all loaches it has a sharp sub-orbital spine, so net with care.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRarely bred in home aquaria; commercial production relies on hormone induction. In the tank it is not known to spawn readily, so home breeding is considered very difficult and is not to be expected.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmbastaia sidthimunki\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDwarf Chain Loach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThailand (Mae Klong basin)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–12+ years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (very social, keep in groups)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e115+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (bottom-feeder)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–12 dGH (soft to medium)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful planted community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish of similar temperament — rasboras, tetras, danios, barbs, dwarf gouramis, corydoras and other calm loaches. Best in a good-sized group of its own kind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge or aggressive fish, territorial cichlids, and very slow long-finned fish it may pester. Take care with tiny dwarf shrimp, which may be viewed as food.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232873234723,"sku":"AA1433","price":39.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232873267491,"sku":"AA1433-M","price":44.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/dwarf-chain-loach-ambastaia-43091554238755-lv.webp?v=1790307187","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/dwarf-chain-loach-ambastaia-sithimunki","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}