Hovering zebra loach

Hovering Zebra Loach (Yunnanilus cruciatus)

The Hovering Zebra Loach is a small freshwater fish native to the slow-moving, heavily planted streams of Southeast Asia. Recognizable by its thin, dark vertical stripes on a cream or yellowish background, it exudes an elegant and discreet allure. This loach remains small — generally around 3 to 4 cm — and is suitable for well-maintained nano-aquariums.

Behavior and Lifestyle
It is a peaceful species, lively but not aggressive, that prefers to live in groups of 6 individuals or more. It is nicknamed "hovering" because it gives the impression of floating motionless in the water, maintaining itself at mid-level with subtle movements.

Ideal Conditions

• Temperature: 22 to 26 °C

• pH: 6.0 to 7.5

• Water: soft, slightly acidic to neutral
  A planted aquarium with many hiding places, a fine substrate (sand or non-sharp gravel) and gentle filtration is recommended.

Feeding
It readily eats small live or frozen prey (daphnia and cyclops) and also accepts good quality dry foods, especially if they sink slowly.

In summary
The Yunnanilus cruciatus is a peaceful and refined fish, good for aquarists looking to add a touch of discreet and elegant movement to their tank. It reveals all its beauty when living in a group in a calm and well-vegetated environment.