Vietnamese Giraffe Loach

The Vietnamese giraffe loach is a flat-bodied hillstream loach of about 10 cm that lives in the shallow, fast-flowing, rocky stretches of Mekong tributaries. Its mouth is small and set back under the snout; the lower lobe of the tail fin is distinctly longer. The body color ranges from golden brown to gray, and its shade can change depending on the surface it rests on. In the wild it forms large groups; when kept in small numbers it becomes very shy. Although it was long thought to feed on insect larvae, it has turned out that the main food of adults is the layer of blue-green algae on stones.

• At least 120 liters and 120 cm of length for a group of 8–10.
• 21–25°C, pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderately hard water.
• Very strong flow and plenty of oxygen are essential; a high-capacity filter, circulation pumps and an air stone.
• Rounded stones, rocks and gravel; a mature aquarium where biofilm has formed.

It grazes on biofilm and algae on stones. Spirulina-based dry foods should be the staple, supplemented with bloodworms, tubifex and brine shrimp.

Generally peaceful, but the choice of tankmates is limited; it loses the competition for food against fast, greedy fish.

Good companions: small current-loving danios and rasboras, other peaceful hillstream loaches.

Avoid: large and greedy bottom dwellers, goldfish, species that need warm, still water.