Care
The Forktail Loach is known from the marginal areas of shallow rainforest streams that often cut through ancient acidic peat bogs, and mostly (but not always) where the water is soft, tannin-stained and clear. Here, these elongate bottom-dwellers tend to reside amongst the marginal vegetation and underneath the leaf litter that has fallen from the shady canopy above. Water movement may be quite variable depending on the time of year and altitude, although in general it is moderately fast, becoming swifter during the rainy season. The aquarium should be mature, spacious (4ft long +), and aquascaped with a soft sand substrate, plenty of smooth water worn pebbles/cobbles, bogwood, and areas of dense planting. Plants will need to be fairly robust to cope with the reasonable water flow, so species such as Java Fern and Anubias sp. that can be tied to the decor are recommended, as is Cryptocoryne balansae which can be planted into the substrate. If housing smaller specimens, be sure to protect them from any filter or powerhead intakes as they do like to try and squeeze into tiny nooks and crevices. It is best to maintain this species in good sized groups (this is more natural), however, they can be a little territorial towards their own kind at times, so it is important to allow several hiding places per fish, with lots of visual barriers breaking up lines of sight. Tankmates should be small and peaceful, as nippy species may target the long dorsal and caudal fin of the Forktail Loach. Good companions could include some of the smaller/more peaceable Nemacheilid loaches, Lepidocephalus/ Lepidocephalichthys spp., Yunnanilus spp., many small cyprinids such as Danios and Rasboras, and small Rainbowfish species. Like other fish that inhabit fresh running waters, these loaches will not tolerate a build-up of nitrates within the aquarium and require excellent water conditions at all times if they are to thrive - so efficient filtration and regular partial water changes are essential. In fact, the fish will often swim out in the open and into the current when a percentage of the water is changed, in obvious enjoyment. As Forktail Loaches are largely nocturnal, it is worth investing in a blue moon light that can be timed to come on for a few hours just as the main lights switch off. This should enable you to view some of their natural behaviour during the evenings. Ensure that the aquarium has tight fitting coverslides with no gaps where equipment feeds into the tank, as these fish can jump - particularly when newly acclimatised. In summary: a very special and much sought after loach species that is only sporadically seen in the trade, which will require a dedicated set-up if it is to thrive. The odd specimen also sometimes turns up as a by-catch in Kuhli loach shipments. May also be seen on sale as Giant Scissortail Loach or Spiny Eel Loach.
Feeding
Small frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, and daphnia. Over time, should also browse upon sinking catfish pellets/tablets/granules.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium.
