New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Barred loach

Nemacheilus fasciatus Valenciennes, 1846
Max Length
7.4 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.7
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
35.00/100
Typical Length
5.8 cm
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Occurs in mountain streams. Prefers quiet and clear water. Feeds on benthic organisms and detritus .

Scientific Name
Nemacheilus fasciatus
Authority
Valenciennes, 1846
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
7.4 cm
Trophic Level
2.7
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
35.00/100
Water Temp
22–24 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Barred loach is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Barred loach is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Barred loach is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Barred loach is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.0; dH range: ? - 12. Tropical; 22°C - 24°C

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
2.7±0.24
Food Items

benthic organisms and detritus (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00724 × L3.01 (TL)
Max TL
7.4cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
22–24°C
pH Range
6.5–7
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
35.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.7
Omnivore / Planktivore
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Valenciennes, 1846

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Barred loach is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Barred loach is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Barred loach has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Cobitis fasciata Valenciennes 1846 Synonym
Homaloptera fasciatus Valenciennes 1846 Synonym
Noemacheilus fasciatus Valenciennes 1846 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Barred loach ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.