Green Tiger Loach (Syncrossus Hymenophysa)
Tiger Loaches can be aggressive and should not be kept with much smaller fishes as its size, and its playful nature may threaten them. The best tankmates for this fish are those that are robust and fast-swimming.
Slow-moving, long-finned species such as guppies, bettas and many cichlids should also be avoided as flowing fins can get nipped.
These loaches are a sociable species; they form involved social authorities and should be kept in groups of at least 5 or 6, preferably ten or more. When kept alone, they can become aggressive or withdrawn towards similarly-shaped fishes. If only a pair or a trio are purchased, the dominant individual will usually attack the others frequently, which may prevent them from feeding.
The Tiger Loach has a browny-tan body decorated with 12-15 vertical bars with iridescent greenish-blue borders that start at the dorsal surface with the bottom of the bars finishing further forwards towards the front of the fish and displays a dark blotch on their dorsal fin.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Syncrossus Hymenophysa |
| Other Names | Tiger Loach, Tiger Botia |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Botiidae |
| Genus | Syncrossus |
| Origins | Indonesia, Malaysia |
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Shoaling | No |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 5 - 7 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 7.5 |
| GH | 3 - 15 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 77 - 86℉ 25 - 30℃ | |
Photos of the Green Tiger Loach
Natural Habitat
You will find the Green Tiger Loach in the Musi River Basin in South Sumatra, West Kalimantan on Borneo in Indonesia and the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
They live in various habitats from main river channels to small upland headwater streams and lakes.
During the rainy season, they migrate to flooded areas to spawn and feed, which means it is found in different ecological communities depending on the time of year.
What to feed the Green Tiger Loach
The Green Tiger Loach are largely unfussy eaters. Still, they should be offered a varied diet containing quality dried products like flakes, granules or sinking pellets, alongside live and frozen food like tubifex, artemia and bloodworm, mosquito larvae and brine shrimp are a favourite.
They will also need fresh vegetables and fruit such as courgette, blanched spinach, cucumber and melon.
How to sex the Green Tiger Loach
It is impossible to know the differences between males and females as they are yet to be documented as far as we know.
Presumably, they are broader and more extensive than that of the males.
How to breed the Green Tiger Loach
Unfortunately, there have been no records of this fish being bred in the home aquarium.
They are likely to be a seasonal, migratory spawner in nature but the breeding habits of this species is still not known.