Panda Garra (Garra Flavatra) Profile

Panda Garra is a flamboyant tropical sucker-mouth loach for freshwater aquarium. Like its namesake the panda, the Panda Garra features broad, blinking bands of light and dark coloration. Its unique markings are decorated with diamond-shaped scale patterns and hints of red coloration in its fins. Due to its extraordinary markings and peaceful nature, the Panda Garra makes a great addition to well-filtered aquariums 30 gallons and larger.

Panda Garra (Garra flavatra) generally peaceful in the aquarium, although when kept singly some specimens may become territorial towards similar-looking species such as Crossocheilus or balitorid loaches. In a group they tend to concentrate on each other with dominance battles involving fin flaring, charging and a paling of the body coloration. However, physical damage rates from is rare to non-existent and, provided its tank mates are chosen with care, this Cyprinidae is ideal for a hill stream-style community.

In their natural habitat, the "Garra flavatra" inhabits well-oxygenated, fast-flowing streams. The addition of a powerhead or the use of a slightly oversized filter media will increase the aquarium filtration and water movement to help recreate natural conditions. While its sucker-like mouth may suggest the Panda Garra is a scavenger or algae eater, it is important not to restrict its diet solely on available algae or food debris. Panda Garras are omnivorous and their diet must consist of prepared algae flake food or algae tablets as well as frozen or freeze-dried foods. The infrequent addition of bloodworms or tubifex worms provides a nutritionally balanced and varied diet.

Tiger Hillstream Loach Sewellia Lineolata

The Tiger Hillstream Loach (Sewellia lineolata) is a curious tropical fish of extraordinary beauty. The unique physical features of the Tiger Hillstream Loach reflect life adapted to fast-flowing streams. The flattened body is a special adaptation that gives the Tiger Hillstream Loach an extremely hydrodynamic shape. This streamlined body shape helps the Tiger Hillstream Loach navigate (or stay put) in very strong currents with minimal effort.

Scientific Name: Sewellia lineolata

Common name: Gold Ring Butterfly Sucker, Reticulated Hillstream Loach, Tiger Hillstream Loach

Synonyms: Balitora lineolata, Sewellia lineolata

Distribution: Vietnam.

Sexual Dimorphism: Females plumper than males. Males have raised areas like small "fences" on first few rays of pectoral fins, and when viewed from above are noticeably "squarer" in the area of the front leading edge of the pectoral fins

Maximum size: 2.5 inches

Similar to: Sewellia pterolineata

Tiger Hillstream Loach Care : Inhabit fast flowing streams over boulders. Aquarium must duplicate these conditions as fish have very high oxygen requirements. All need excellent water-flow and aeration, numerous rocky hiding places and smooth pebbles and boulders to graze over. Lighting should be bright to encourage algae growth in the aquarium. Plants are not necessary as the fish do not normally encounter them in the wild, but they will help with water-quality. Suitable plants for high-flow environments are Anubias and Microsoreum. These will grow on rock-work or driftwood.

Feeding : Note these algae eaters fish have smaller mouths than Gastromyzon species which should be a consideration with foodstuffs. Good quality flake, sinking pellets, algae wafers, thawed frozen Bloodworm, Mysis Shrimp, blanched Spinach, Kale, natural algae an advantage.

Water parameters: pH:6.5 - 7.5. Hardness: Medium

Temperature: 68ºF to 75ºF (20-23.8°C)

Breeding: In 2006 these fish were bred in aquaria for the first time although the full details of their courtship and breeding methods have yet to be witnessed.

It is critical to maintain high water quality and aeration plus strong water movement to ensure the health of the Tiger Hillstream Loach. The Tiger Hillstream Loach should not be housed in a tropical aquarium setup with water temperatures consistently above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. A recommended minimum tank of 30 gallons should be provided to house the Tiger Hillstream Loach.

Supplement the diet of the Tiger Hillstream Loach with foods that sink to the bottom of the aquarium such as a high-quality flake food, sinking carnivore pellets, sinking algae wafers, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex worms.

Justifiably regarded by most Tiger Hillstream Loach enthusiasts as the most beautiful of all algae eaters species, Sewellia lineolata remains an ambition for many.

This species does not travel well and often shipments may perish in transit. The species very high oxygen requirements means that shippers are learning to pack less fish per bag. This raises the overall freight costs per fish and hence increases the price at the retail level.

If the hobbyist can afford to purchase these fish, they must protect their investment by providing the best quality environment possible. Given these conditions, fish that have survived import will usually settle down and acclimatize well to aquarium life. Also, unlike many other Sucker-bodied Tiger Hillstream Loaches, they seem far more at ease when searching for food on the loose surface of sand or fine gravel, and will flutter their fins, disturbing the surface grains.

Top Algae Eaters for Fish Tank

The algae problem on fish tanks generally arise due to excess nitrate, too many fish, rarely replace the water, the filter is dirty and rarely cleaned, or unbalance between the forces of light and carbon dioxide dose. One of the preventive measures you can do to suppress the growth of algae is to include the type of algae eater into the tank.

Species of fish such as Otocinclus affinis, Crossocheilus siamensis and Gyrinocheilus aymonieri are examples of the fish types are effective for cleaning brown algae and green algae new growth.

Therefore, insert the fresh water algae eaters, two or three days after the aquarium is installed. The algae-eater fish is inserted into the aquarium with ratio of 1 fish to 25-50 liters of water.

If we insert two algae-eating fish into the tank containing 500 liters of water for example, then this is useless. Because, even if the fish are "working overtime" 24 hours a day, will not effectively handle the existing algae. The algae eater will be effective when working in groups.