Berdmore's Loach
Syncrossus berdmorei
The massive 'Tiger Loach' (20-25 cm). A gigantic, irascible and ruthless bottom predator originating from Myanmar. Sports a breathtaking coloration with black lines and dots on a fiery orange background. Incompatible with peaceful community tanks: will devour crustaceans and slow fish.
Température de l’eau
22 - 26 °C
Valeur du pH
6.5 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
15 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 300 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
GH
2 - 12 dGH
KH
1 - 6 dKH
TDS
40 - 240 ppm
Conductivité
63 - 375 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Irrawaddy and Salween river systems, which cross Myanmar (Burma), western Thailand and marginal Indian basins. Lives in main courses and large tributaries with moderate or strong current, where clear water flows over thick expanses of soft sand and forests of submerged woods. Retreats under huge coastal rocks.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Once classified as Botia, it belongs to the genus of irascible giants Syncrossus. It is an amazing armored beast: extremely elongated but powerful and cylindrical body shape. In nature it easily hits 25 cm / 10 inches (weighing several ounces fluffy geniuses). The snout is very sharp and long, dominated by stiff barbels and the terrifying bipennate subocular spine amazing fierce, thick and long, capable of bloodily injuring human fingers lethal gloomy corner.
Social Behavior: "The Cursed Bottom Boss". It is not a cute fluffy cleaner. It is a gregarious dictator. MUST be kept in a school (5-6 specimens minimum) in endless tanks: the process of affirming the dominant individual ('Alpha') is brutal and continuous, with violent brawls, bites, hisses audible through the glass and colorations that fade (Graying out) as a signal of surrender pale scared. Alone it will become a systematic assassin of any living creature within jaw reach.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The Asian Tiger's Coat. As a juvenile it is a dazzling spectacle gloomy beautiful: intense sunset orange or fluorescent yellow body sadistically beautiful. It presents a hybrid pattern of interrupted vertical black bands alternating with broken longitudinal lines composed of spots and dense amazing black dots. The upper fins have black dashed stripes, the pelvic and anal fins are fierce coral orange. Adult females are decidedly stockier, round fluffy and massive.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Verified data (FishBase): Syncrossus berdmorei is a tropical freshwater, demersal species recorded at pH 6.5–7.5 and 22°C–26°C. FishBase reports it from clear mountain streams and medium to large-sized rivers.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Endemic to the Irrawaddy and Salween river systems, which cross Myanmar (Burma), western Thailand and marginal Indian basins. Lives in main courses and large tributaries with moderate or strong current, where clear water flows over thick expanses of soft sand and forests of submerged woods. Retreats under huge coastal rocks.
Origine
Sélection et cultivarsAsie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- Their temperament is incredibly boisterous, aggressive, and deeply territorial. They establish strict hierarchies and will frequently spar with one another, sometimes causing minor damage. They are fascinating, highly intelligent fish but require an experienced aquarist to manage their demanding behavioral needs.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- In the wild, they are primarily carnivorous, feeding heavily on insects, small crustaceans, and snails. In the aquarium, they enthusiastically accept sinking carnivore pellets, chopped earthworms, frozen bloodworms, and pieces of prawn. They are excellent snail eradicators, actively hunting and crushing pest snails with ease.
- Espérance de vie
- 8-12 years
- Taille adulte
- 15 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- School
- To manage their extreme aggression, they MUST be kept in a group of at least 5 to 6 individuals. Keeping them in smaller numbers will result in the dominant loach systematically harassing the weaker ones to death. In a large group, a complex pecking order forms, spreading the aggression safely among the school.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- They possess a hearty appetite and should be fed once or twice a day with high-protein foods. They are voracious eaters that will aggressively compete for food, often dominating the feeding area. Ensure that more timid tank mates still receive their share when these loaches are actively feeding.
- Charge biologique
- Medium to High
- Berdmore's loach is a large, bulky, and active fish that produces a substantial bioload. Because they are messy eaters and large waste producers, powerful filtration is absolutely required. Frequent, large water changes are necessary to keep nitrates low, as they are sensitive to declining water quality.
- Courant
- Stagnant
- Originating from fast-flowing hill streams and rivers in Asia, they require highly oxygenated water with strong flow. Providing powerheads or a manifold system to simulate river rapids is highly beneficial for their health. Strong water movement closely mimics their natural environment and helps curb some of their aggressive tendencies.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Like many active loaches, they are prone to jumping if startled or if they feel confined in too small a tank. A heavy, tight-fitting lid is absolutely essential to prevent escapes, especially since they are strong enough to push light lids aside. Securing all gaps around filters and heaters is also strongly recommended.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding Syncrossus berdmorei in the home aquarium has not been verifiably documented. They are believed to be migratory spawners that require massive seasonal changes in water chemistry and flow to trigger reproduction. Commercial specimens are either wild-caught or induced to breed via hormone injections in commercial facilities.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Species only
- This species is highly aggressive and territorial, making them wholly unsuitable for a standard community tank. They will aggressively nip the fins of slow-moving fish and outright attack smaller, peaceful species. They must be kept in a highly specialized, semi-aggressive setup with large, fast-moving, robust tank mates like large barbs or sturdy cichlids.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- They are strict bottom dwellers that spend their time patrolling the substrate, investigating every cave and crevice. They require a soft, sandy substrate because they love to dig and bury themselves when stressed or resting. They rarely venture into the upper levels of the tank unless aggressively pursuing food.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,3 ± 0,4 se
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5312
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00589, b = 3.08
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (16 / 100)
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