Sumatran Neon Loach (Pangio bitaimac)

$ 34.99

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* For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout *

The eel-like, peaceful Sumatran Neon Loach is an extremely rare and unique aquarium species!

The Sumatran Neon Loach (Pangio bitaimac) is an uncommon relative to the common Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii/semicincta). This peaceful fish is very distinctive for its eel-like body, which is a dark purplish color with a bright blue sheen in many specimens. Native to Sumatra (and possibly other nearby areas), the Sumatran Neon Loach is a relatively new species to the aquarium trade, being discovered in 2009. The possible reason for this is that many importers of this fish have not understood or provided proper care, thus making healthy specimens scarce.

Though rare, the Sumatran Neon Loach is a relatively undemanding fish, provided that a few specific needs are met. This fish is generally native to rivers and streams of low water flow. The pH of these waterways can be excessively acidic due to a great deal of leaf litter and other decaying plant matter. While the Sumatran Neon Loach can acclimate to neutral or slightly alkaline water over time, it should at first be kept in acidic water that is less than 7.0 pH. This shy fish can be sensitive during shipping and when initially introduced to a new tank. It must be provided with a great deal of cover and refuge in order to feel secure. It also must be kept in groups of at least 6 or more. As with most fish, it also requires a clean, well-maintained aquarium. While it is a completely peaceful species, it is also a micropredator. It is generally safe with adult dwarf shrimp, but may prey on small fry.

The Sumatran Neon Loach is typically an unfussy eater that will accept most sinking foods, but it should also be offered meaty live or frozen foods of appropriate size. It will maintain its best health and coloration with a varied diet of high-quality meaty foods.

What We Like About This Fish:

Resembles a tiny eel in appearance and motion
Highly unique freshwater specimen
Safe with plants
Completely peaceful
Very rare and new to the hobby

RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:

Temperature: 70° - 79° F (21° - 26° C)
pH: 5.5 - 7.0
KH: 2 - 10 dKH
Minimum tank size: 20 gallons

CARE GUIDELINES:

Diet: Scavenger/Micropredator. Prefers sinking pellets, but will also accept most flake foods and algae wafers, and should also be provided with live/frozen foods such as freeze-dried daphnia, bloodworms, tubifex, etc.
Social behavior: Peaceful. Must be kept in groups of 6 or more.
Origin: Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo, Java), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand,
Average adult size: 3 - 4 inches (7.6 -10 cm)
Average purchase size: 3 inches (7.6 cm)

All Aquatic Arts brand plants and animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!

For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.

UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.

Shipping Schedule for this service

UPS 1 Day: Monday through Thursday

Current Handling Time:

1-9 business days

Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.

Shipping Rate

Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.

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