What tank size does a Dwarf Chain Loach need?

A Dwarf Chain Loach needs an aquarium of at least 90 litres (23.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Dwarf Chain Loach need?

Dwarf Chain Loach does best at 22–30 °C (71.6–86 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.

What group size does a Dwarf Chain Loach need?

Dwarf Chain Loach is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Dwarf Chain Loach suitable for beginners?

Dwarf Chain Loach sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.

Species library

Dwarf Chain Loach

Ambastaia sidthimunki

Botiidae

FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: well-established

Dwarf Chain Loach — Ambastaia sidthimunki — 📷 source not recorded

About

The dwarf chain loach is one of the smallest and most sociable members of the botiid family, native to the Chao Phraya, Mekong and Maeklong basins of Thailand and Cambodia. Reaching only about 5-6 cm, it wears a bold chain-link pattern of dark blotches along a golden body and, unlike most loaches, stays busy and visible right through the day. It is a genuinely peaceful nano loach that only thrives, and shows its playful darting personality, when kept in a proper group.

Care

Keep a shoal of at least six (ten or more is far better) in a mature, well-oxygenated tank of roughly 90 litres or more with soft sand, gentle to moderate flow, driftwood and plenty of planted cover. Fit a snug lid as these active fish can jump, and avoid pairing them with very long-finned or sluggish tankmates whose fins may occasionally be nipped.

Diet

Protein-leaning omnivore that hunts tiny invertebrates and small snails while also grazing plant matter; offer sinking micro-pellets plus frequent frozen or live bloodworm, Daphnia and brine shrimp, with occasional blanched vegetables.

Tankmate compatibility

Gets along with (40)

Possible with care (173)

Acei Cichlid African Butterflyfish Agassiz's Cory Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid Altum Angelfish Amano Shrimp Assassin Snail Auratus Cichlid Banjo Catfish Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Neon Tetra Black Ruby Barb Black Skirt Tetra Blackline Rasbora Bladder Snail Bloodfin Tetra Blue Acara Blue Dolphin Cichlid Blue Tiger Shrimp Blue Velvet Shrimp Boesemani Rainbowfish Borleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo Sucker Brevis Shell Dweller Brichard's Teleogramma Bristlenose Pleco Buenos Aires Tetra Buffalohead Cichlid Bumblebee Cichlid Bumblebee Goby Butterfly Hillstream Loach Cardinal Tetra Celebes Rainbowfish Celestial Pearl Danio Checkerboard Cichlid Checkered Barb Cherry Shrimp Chili Rasbora Chinese Algae Eater Chocolate Cichlid Chocolate Gourami Clown Killifish Cobalt Blue Zebra Cochu's Blue Tetra Colombian Ramshorn Snail Congo Dwarf Cichlid Convict Cichlid Crystal Red Shrimp Cylindricus Cichlid Demasoni Cichlid Denison Barb Discus Doctor Fish Dogtooth Cichlid Dojo (Weather) Loach Dwarf Orange Crayfish Dwarf Pea Puffer Dwarf Petricola Catfish Dwarf Rasbora Electric Yellow Lab Ellioti Cichlid Elongate Mbuna Ember Tetra Emerald Cory Endler's Livebearer Even-spotted Synodontis Featherfin Squeaker Festivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 Puffer Firemouth Cichlid Five-bar Cichlid Flame Tetra Forktail Rainbowfish Freshwater Clam German Blue Ram Ghost Shrimp Glass Catfish Glowlight Danio Gold Barb Golden Dwarf Cichlid Golden Julie Golden Wonder Killifish Green Discus Green Neon Tetra Guppy Harlequin Rasbora Heckel Discus Hongi Cichlid Japanese Trapdoor Snail Jewel Cichlid Johanni Cichlid Julii Cory Kenyi Cichlid Keyhole Cichlid Kissing Gourami Kuhli Loach Lambchop Rasbora Least Killifish Lemon Cichlid Lemon Tetra Leopard Danio Little Corydoras Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid Maingano Cichlid Malaysian Trumpet Snail Marble Hatchetfish Marlieri Cichlid Medaka Ricefish Moonlight Gourami Multifasciatus Shell Dweller Mystery Snail Neon Tetra Nerite Snail Ocellatus Shell Dweller Odessa Barb Otocinclus Panda Corydoras Paradise Fish Paraguay Eartheater Peacock Cichlid Pearl Danio Pearl Gourami Peppered Corydoras Pictus Catfish Platy Polka Dot Loach Port Cichlid Powder Blue Cichlid Pygmy Corydoras Rabbit Snail Rainbow Cichlid Ramshorn Snail Red Empress Red Rainbowfish Red Zebra Cichlid Red-Tail Shark Redhead Cichlid Regan's Julie Reticulated Hillstream Loach Rosy Barb Rubber Lip Pleco Rummynose Tetra Rusty Cichlid Salt and Pepper Cory Saulosi Cichlid Scarlet Badis Scissortail Rasbora Severum Siamese Algae Eater Similis Shell Dweller Skunk Cory Spotted Hoplo Star Sapphire Strawberry Rasbora Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp Sunshine Peacock Sveni Eartheater Swordtail T-Bar Cichlid Taiwan Reef Cichlid Thai Micro Crab Threadfin Acara Threadfin Rainbowfish Three-spot Gourami Turquoise Rainbowfish Uaru (Triangle Cichlid)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid Venezuelan Cory White Cloud Mountain Minnow Wrestling Halfbeak Yoyo Loach Zebra Danio Zebra Mbuna

Avoid (58)

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.

All the methods, with diagrams

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Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Dwarf Chain Loach need?: A Dwarf Chain Loach needs an aquarium of at least 90 litres (23.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Dwarf Chain Loach need?: Dwarf Chain Loach does best at 22–30 °C (71.6–86 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
What group size does a Dwarf Chain Loach need?: Dwarf Chain Loach is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Dwarf Chain Loach suitable for beginners?: Dwarf Chain Loach sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature22–30°C

Optimal temp.25–28°C

pH6–7.8

Hardness (GH)2–15°d

Carbonate (KH)1–10°d

Adult size5.5 cm

Min. volume≥ 90 L

Min. tank length≥ 80 cm

Group size≥ 6

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowModerate

Lifespan~10 yrs

Try in the calculator