Care
Japanese Monitor Lizard Loach are beautiful, elongate loaches that inhabit the middle and upperreaches of rivers, where the water is cool, clean and well-oxygenated. These bottom-dwellingfish require a mature aquarium with some natural algae growth. Even though thisspecies does not grow particularly large, a good amount of space is essential asat times they can be incredibly active swimmers. The tank should be wellfiltered, with additional water movement provided by extra powerheads inorder to emulate riverine conditions. A substrate consisting of soft sand willensure that the delicate sensory barbels are not damaged, and this can be furtherfurnished with lots of rounded pebbles and shelters amongst bogwood, smoothrocks, and hardy plants.
Niwaella delicataare peaceful and gregarious and should always be maintained in good sizedgroups (5 would be the minimum suggested). Tankmates must be small andpeaceable and also enjoy the fast-flowing temperate conditions. The markings on
Niwaella delicata can be quitevaried, and no two fish share exactly the same pattern. Be sure to protectthese inquisitive fish from any filter or powerhead intakes as they do sometimeslike to try and squeeze into tiny nooks and crevices.
Feeding
Offer a varied diet consistingof sinking pellets/granules, algae wafers, good quality flake (crushed), powderedfry foods, and small meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquitolarvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, baby brineshrimp, cyclops, and daphnia. Theseloaches also very much enjoy browsing on algae, likely for the micro-organismswhich it contains.
Breeding
Unknown
