{"product_id":"hasselt-s-sand-loach-lepidocephalichthys-hasselti","title":"Hasselt’s Sand Loach (Lepidocephalichthys hasselti)","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hasselt’s Sand Loach\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cobitidae\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5–6 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e Peaceful, active bottom‑dweller\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Easy–Moderate\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5–8 years\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLepidocephalichthys hasselti\u003c\/strong\u003e is a small, peaceful sand loach known for its constant foraging behavior and ability to sift through fine substrates. Unlike the eel‑shaped Pangio loaches, this species has a \u003cstrong\u003eshorter, more cylindrical body\u003c\/strong\u003e, similar to dwarf chain loaches but far more peaceful. They do very well in community tanks and are excellent for cleaning leftover food from the substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAppearance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTan to light brown base colour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFine dark speckling and subtle horizontal shading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShort, slightly compressed body with a rounded head\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall barbels around the mouth for sifting sand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFemales tend to be slightly rounder when mature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBehaviour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVery peaceful and social — best in \u003cstrong\u003egroups of 4–6+\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConstantly sifts sand for micro‑foods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActive during the day, unlike many loaches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreat in planted tanks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompletely shrimp‑safe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey enjoy digging and will often partially bury themselves in soft sand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank Requirements\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRequirement\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eIdeal\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 gallons or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubstrate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft \u003cstrong\u003esand\u003c\/strong\u003e (important)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGentle to moderate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLid\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTight (can jump when startled)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAquascaping Tips\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLots of wood, plants, and shaded areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmooth rocks and caves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFine sand to protect barbels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModerate leaf litter beneficial but not required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOmnivorous and easy to feed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreferred Foods\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSinking micro‑pellets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepashy gel foods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrozen brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLive worms (microworms, grindal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlake foods (after sinking)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey sift constantly, so multiple small feedings work best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTankmates\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExtremely community‑friendly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood tankmates:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTetras, rasboras, danios\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall barbs (non‑nippy)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGouramis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOther peaceful loaches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCorydoras\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShrimp and snails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge or predatory fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVery boisterous species that outcompete for food\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreeding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBreeding \u003cem\u003eL. hasselti\u003c\/em\u003e in aquaria is \u003cstrong\u003erare\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKey notes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEgg‑scattering behaviour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDense plants or spawning mops help\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConditioning with live foods required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFry are very small and need infusoria\/greenwater\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Danshuiyu Indonesia","offers":[{"title":"Default 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