Care
The Tri-Band Sumo Loach is known from clear, well-oxygenated, shallow, fast-flowing waters of headwaters, tributaries, and high-gradient streams. Here there is usually a forest canopy overhead, and a substrate of sand, smooth gravel, and water-worn rocks and boulders. Aquatic plants do not usually feature in these habitats, although in some areas there may be a little marginal vegetation. These brightly-coloured torpedo shaped loaches are members of a group of bottom dwellers referred to as Brook Loaches, and they occupy a similar, but not quite so harsh niche to that of the balitorids (Hillstream Loaches). Nemacheilidae is a huge and diverse family, currently containing over 450 species and is comprised of many popular genera, including Aborichthys, Acanthocobitis, Mesonoemacheilus, Nemacheilus, Schistura and Yunnanilus.
A requisite for their care is highly oxygenated water with plenty of current, and tight fitting coverslides are a must. The Tri-Band Sumo Loach is one of the most strikingly coloured members of the vast Schistura genus, but is highly territorial and must be kept in spacious aquaria with plenty of visual barriers amongst the decor. Their antagonistic behaviour is not so much of an issue in the wild, where fish can easily move from one territory to another, but it can certainly present problems within the confines of the aquarium. Provide a sandy substrate along with plenty of nooks and crannies formed from pebbles, rocks, pieces of slate, and tangles of driftwood - ensuring that lines of sight are broken up. As mentioned above, plants are not found in any great abundance in the fast-flowing waters of the natural habitat of the Tri-Band Sumo Loach, so are not considered essential; however, robust species such as Anubias and Microsorum tied onto driftwood will help with water quality and will make the aquarium look more aesthetically pleasing, as well as creating more hiding places. The best way to keep these loaches is either singly, as a known compatible pair, or in dense groups (10+). Keeping just 3 or 4 can result in carnage with specimens being lost. Tri-Band Sumo Loaches do not usually show aggression towards other current-loving fish, providing that they are not other nemacheilids. Nonetheless, small placid tankmates are best avoided, as are species with long fins. Good companions could include some of the smaller Barbs, Barilius/Opsarius, temperate Bitterlings, Crossocheilus, Danios, Devarios or Garras, and shoals of these will act as 'dither fish', encouraging the loaches out into the open. 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. The Tri-Band Sumo Loach has been widely available in the trade since late 2006 and remained undescribed until 2023. Sporadic imports of the 'real' Schistura balteata have also been available prior to this under the Sumo Loach nametag. The Tri-Band Sumo Loach has two different vivid colour forms based on the colour of the posterior half of the body - pink or yellow - and the reason behind these variations remains unclear, as they seem to give no indication of gender, collection location, or hierarchal position. The pictured fish is the yellow form. The true Sumo Loach (S. balteata) is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: unique colour pattern consisting of 2-3 dark vertical bars below the dorsal fin, 3-5 pairs of round spots in front of the dorsal fin along the back, and an absence of a black basal caudal mark. The Tri-Band Sumo Loach (S. ataranensis) on the other hand, has orange, pink, or yellow vertical bars (that don't always directly correspond with the colour of the posterior half of the body), and a black basal caudal mark that extends the full caudal fin base.
Feeding
Small frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, and daphnia. Will also take sinking catfish pellets/tablets/granules.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium, albeit accidentally. Several aquarists have observed possible pre-spawning behaviour in the form of a pair digging out a cave in the substrate under the rockwork. There is a single report of an aquarist finding fry in their external canister filter.
