Schistura mahnerti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schistura mahnerti |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Schistura
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| Species: |
mahnerti
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The Schistura mahnerti is a type of tropical freshwater fish. It belongs to the stone loach family, called Nemacheilidae. This fish lives in fast-moving streams in countries like Thailand and Myanmar (also known as Burma). Recently, S. mahnerti has become a popular fish for aquariums.
People often call this fish the Burmese-border sand loach or red-tail sand loach. Sometimes, pet stores might mistakenly call it a zebra loach or Burmese Border loach. These other fish are actually from a different group called Botia.
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What is the Red-Tail Sand Loach?
How Does it Look and Act?
Red-tail sand loaches look a lot like other fish in their Schistura group. They have long bodies and flat bellies. They also have stripes on their sides. As they get older, their fins might turn a reddish color.
Male and female red-tail sand loaches look a bit different. Only the males have special flaps under their eyes. These fish move by swimming in short, quick bursts from one spot to another. The biggest they get is about 3 inches (7.6 cm) long.
Many Schistura fish have similar stripe patterns. This can make it hard to tell them apart. But S. mahnerti has at least nine rays in its tail fin. The stripes near their head look like a zebra's or tiger's stripes. Closer to their tail, the stripes become thick, solid bands.
S. mahnerti fish need many places to hide. They also need things that block their view of other fish. This helps them feel like they have their own space. In an aquarium, they can learn to eat flake food. But they mostly like to eat meat. They enjoy eating mosquito larvae, bloodworms, and small insects.
Where Does it Live?
Schistura mahnerti fish come from the Salween River. This river starts in the Himalayas. It then flows east and forms the border between Thailand and Burma.
In their natural home, the water is a bit acidic. The pH level is usually between 6 and 6.9. Because the streams flow very fast, the water has a lot of oxygen. The warm, tropical weather keeps the water temperature between 73 to 79 °F (23 to 26 °C).
Keeping Them in an Aquarium
These fish can be a bit aggressive if they are kept alone. They can also be aggressive if there are only a few of them. But they become calmer when they have the right water conditions. They also do better when they are in a larger group with other Schistura mahnerti fish.
Making the water move more and adding air to the tank helps keep these fish healthy. They are sensitive to medicines, especially those with copper. If a fish needs medicine, it's best to put it in a separate tank. You should also be very careful with the amount of medicine you use.
It's good to give these fish many different kinds of food. Make sure a lot of their food is high in protein. If you take good care of them, these fish are a great addition to an aquarium with other semi-aggressive fish. They can live for up to 12 years!
