Dwarf chain loach
Ambastaia sidthimunki
- Tank length
- 18.6 cm7.3 in
- Group
- 6+
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C75–86 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Adult size
- 3.1 cm1.2 in
- Lifespan
- 8–15 yrs
A small, social loach that is only confident in a group; it also hunts pest snails and swims in open midwater.A small, social loach that is only confident in a group; it also hunts pest snails and swims in open midwater.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African clawed frog
African clawed frog may eat Dwarf chain loachAfrican clawed frog may eat Dwarf chain loach
- African butterflyfish
African butterflyfish may eat Dwarf chain loachAfrican butterflyfish may eat Dwarf chain loach
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Dwarf chain loachAfrican knifefish may eat Dwarf chain loach
- African pike
African pike may eat Dwarf chain loachAfrican pike may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Dwarf chain loachAlligator gar may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Amazon toadfish
Amazon toadfish may eat Dwarf chain loachAmazon toadfish may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Dwarf chain loachAntenna ray may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Dwarf chain loachArapaima may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Arrowhead puffer
Arrowhead puffer may eat Dwarf chain loachArrowhead puffer may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Dwarf chain loachAsian arowana may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Asian upside-down catfish
Asian upside down catfish may eat Dwarf chain loachAsian upside down catfish may eat Dwarf chain loach
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Dwarf chain loachAustralian pearl arowana may eat Dwarf chain loach
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 24–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Mae Khlong and Chao Phraya basins, Thailand | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 8–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 12 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |