Rosy Loach

The Rosy Loach, Petruichthys sp. Rosy (syn. Yunnanilus sp. Rosy), comes from Myanmar in Southeast Asia and is one of the smallest loach species with a body length of 3 cm. It occurs in small groups and feeds on biofilm with its microorganisms, but also on smaller aquatic creatures. The water temperature in nature ranges from 16°C to 26°C.

Care in the aquarium

The Rosy Loach, which likes to swim, needs an aquarium with at least 60 or, better, 80 liters of filling volume. The water temperature should be between 18 and 26°C and may fluctuate throughout the year. The animals feel most comfortable in groups, which is why at least 6-10 members of their species should be kept together. Dense border planting and additional hiding places, dimmed lighting and a dark substrate also contribute to the well-being of the dwarf loach. Ideally there should be a good current and the water should be rich in oxygen. This extremely peaceful fish can easily be socialized with other peaceful, similarly sized fish. An excellent companion fish is the Galaxy Rasbora, which also shares its habitat with the Rosy Loach in nature.

Feeding

Since the Rosy Loach is an omnivore, feeding it in the aquarium is not too difficult. It is best to feed as variedly as possible. Frozen and live food are happily accepted, but commercial fish food, green food and algae are also eaten. Interestingly, even planarians, which are very unpopular with most fish, are sometimes eaten.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

The sexes are different in Petruichthys sp. Rosy can be recognized by her color and body structure. The slightly slimmer males have a red-orange body color, while the slightly fuller females are beige to yellowish in color. It is possible to breed these loaches in aquariums, but we don’t know much about it. This species is a free spawner that does not care for its brood.