Dwarf chain loach
Ambastaia sidthimunki
A 2.5-inch loach with a chain-link pattern that shoals near the bottom and in midwater; fits smaller tanks but eats snails and baby shrimp.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 23 gallons
- Group
- 6+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, small snails
- Origin
- Mae Klong and Ataran basins, Thailand and Myanmar
- Hardier than53%
- Bigger than36%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Dwarf chain loach tank mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- DiscusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Dwarf gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Honey gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Kuhli loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Neon tetraDwarf chain loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Neon tetra.Risky
- Harlequin rasboraDwarf chain loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Harlequin rasbora.Risky
- Fancy guppyDwarf chain loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Fancy guppy.Risky
- Cherry shrimpEats shrimplets and small snails.Risky
- BettaMay nip long betta fins.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish eats small fish: Dwarf chain loach.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Dwarf chain loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Dwarf chain loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Dwarf chain loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat Dwarf chain loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Dwarf chain loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Dwarf chain loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for dwarf chain loaches: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 6 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 3.24 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 2.68 BU
- Min. water
- 72 L net
- Min. footprint
- 80 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 6+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- occasional
- Sensitive to
- copper
Care notes
Dwarf chain loaches come from the Mae Klong and Ataran basins of Thailand and Myanmar and are possibly threatened in the wild, so captive-bred fish are the better buy. Unlike most loaches they often swim as a group above the substrate.
Keep six or more, ideally ten, in a 20 gallon tank or larger over sand, with oxygen-rich water and gentle flow. They eat small snails, shrimplets and soft plants, and some keepers report nipping of slow or long-finned fish.
Questions
What size tank does a dwarf chain loach need?
At least 23 gallons (72 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2.4 inches without fins.
How many dwarf chain loaches should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do dwarf chain loaches need?
68–86 °F, pH 5.5–7.5 and 1–12 dGH. Dwarf chain loaches come from Mae Klong and Ataran basins, Thailand and Myanmar.
How long do dwarf chain loaches live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with dwarf chain loaches?
Good tank mates include Panda corydoras, Otocinclus, Amano shrimp, Black widow tetra and Blood parrot cichlid. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.