Care
The Panda Loach is known from small, clear mountain brooks, up to 885m/2,900"™ above sea level, that flow into the Xi Jiang river in the Dayaoshan mountains of Guangxi Province, China. The water here is cool, fast-flowing, and well-oxygenated, and it flows over substrates of sand, smooth gravel, water worn rocks, and boulders. There is little in the way of aquatic vegetation, but riparian plants do line the margins and a rich biofilm layer coats the rocks. A requisite for the care of these fish in the home aquarium is a mature river-style tank with cool, highly oxygenated water and plenty of current. Tight fitting coverslides are a must and lighting may be fairly bright to encourage some natural algae growth and to help simulate the shallow stream conditions they experience in the wild. However, you may need a means of chilling the water to a subtropical temperature during unusually hot summer months. Provide a sandy substrate along with plenty of nooks and crannies formed from pebbles, rocks, and pieces of slate. It is best not to add bogwood as this will affect water chemistry, rendering it too soft and acidic for these loaches. As mentioned above, plants are not found in any great abundance in the fast-flowing waters of the natural habitat of the Panda Loach, so are not considered essential; however robust, broad-leaved plants will add to the aquascape and create further resting places for the Panda Loaches, which will enjoy gently browsing about on the leaves and seemingly "˜surfing"™ in the current. Juvenile Panda Loaches are very eye-catching, sporting bold black blotches on a creamy-white body. This pattern changes drastically as the fish mature, breaking up and taking on a much less striking, but still attractive mottled brown/cream appearance. A dark band often forms along the lateral line. These fish are highly sociable and should be kept in good sized groups; 5 would really be considered the absolute minimum. The larger the group, the better the chances are of obtaining both sexes - which may lead to spawning opportunities. They can be kept alongside other sub-tropical current-loving species such as White Cloud Mountain Minnows and many species from the Danio family, plus other hillstream loach species. Other fish normally found alongside Y. pachychilus in nature include Erromyzon (formerly Protomyzon) sinensis and Vanmanenia pingchowensis. Like other species 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 powerful filtration and regular partial water changes are essential. Y. pachychilus is listed as of "˜least concern"™ on the IUCN red list of endangered species, but "˜rare"™ in the China Red Book of Endangered Animals and "˜vulnerable"™ on the China species red list. The main threats come from habitat degradation, including deterioration of water quality due to pollution, construction of hydropower dams, electro-fishing (for other species) and seasonal changes such as severe desiccation of some of the waterways. One population that lives in the Buquanhe river remains inside the protected area of the Dayaoshan National Nature Reserve in China, but other populations living outside are at risk.
Feeding
In the wild, these bottom dwellers feed mainly on tiny benthic invertebrates living in the biofilm. In the aquarium, they will eat most foods offered if of an appropriate small size. Offer a good variety of fare, such as mini bloodworm, baby brineshrimp and Daphnia, as well as small sinking catfish pellets, crushed flake and even powdered fry foods if your specimens are really tiny.
Breeding
A small number of aquarists have managed to breed this species in the home aquarium, with young fry found hiding amongst pebbles in the main tank or in the external filter.
