Nemacheilus Ornatus

Datasheet

General Description

• Nemacheilus ornatus, commonly known as ornate hillstream loach, is distinguished by its unique color pattern consisting of a black lateral body stripe with vertically-orientated blotches. It belongs to the family Nemacheilidae and is classified under the order Cypriniformes. The species is characterized by an elongated body with distinctive markings and specific physical features described by Kottelat (1990).

Aquarium Setup

• The aquarium setup for Nemacheilus ornatus should replicate a flowing stream or river habitat. A tank of at least 60 liters is recommended with a substrate of rocks, sand, fine gravel, and water-worn boulders. The tank should include driftwood branches for hiding spots and can support hardy aquatic plants like Microsorum, Bolbitis, or Anubias. Maintaining high oxygen levels and some water movement is crucial, necessitating the use of power filters, additional powerheads, or airstones. Clean water conditions are essential, requiring routine water changes of 30-50% tank volume weekly.

Behaviour

• Nemacheilus ornatus is a peaceful species, particularly when kept in groups of four or more. It appreciates being maintained with conspecifics and can be combined with other peaceful, open water-dwelling cyprinids for added confidence. It can coexist with similarly shaped species, but caution is advised with excessively territorial or aggressive fish, especially in smaller aquaria.

Feeding and Diet

• In nature, Nemacheilus species are omnivorous, with a diet consisting mainly of small insects, worms, crustaceans, and zooplankton, supplemented with plant matter. In the aquarium, they accept a variety of foods, including dried and live options like Daphnia, Artemia, and bloodworms. A diet rich in live and frozen fare enhances their coloration and overall condition.

Reproduction & Dimorphism

• There is limited information on the reproduction of Nemacheilus ornatus in aquarium settings. Male ornate hillstream loaches possess distinct physical characteristics such as a suborbital flap and thicker pectoral-fin rays during breeding. Females tend to be slightly larger and heavier-bodied than males.

Habitat and Distribution

• Nemacheilus ornatus is known to inhabit shallow riffles with small pebble substrates and clear, moderately-flowing water in the Tapi river drainage in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. Syntopic species found in the same habitat include Acanthocobitis zonalternans, Schistura geisleri, and Homaloptera species. The family Nemacheilidae, to which N. ornatus belongs, is distributed across Eurasia, with significant species diversity in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and China.