Home / Fishes / Carp, barbs, minnows, loaches / Nemacheilidae / Zhustura geisleri
No federal permit to keepZhustura geisleri
Schistura geisleri
Fishes › Carp, barbs, minnows, loaches (Cypriniformes) › Nemacheilidae (Stone loaches)
Zhustura geisleri is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemacheilidae, the stone loaches.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 1.3 in / 3.2 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 12 in (roughly 14 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 70–79 °F, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament peaceful; a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions meaning we recommend designing the aquarium to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, sand, fine gravel and some larger water-worn rocks or boulders.”
- Diet: “Schistura species are omnivorous although the bulk of their diet consists of small insects, worms, crustaceans and other zooplankton with only relatively small amounts of plant matter consumed, mostly via the stomach contents of prey items.”
- Tankmates: “Unlike many congeners this species is peaceful with conspecifics and seems to appreciate being maintained in a group so the purchase of four or more specimens is highly recommended.”
- Breeding: “Has been spawned at least once in aquaria with 2 males and 4 gravid females removed to a separate tank with coarse gravel substrate and removed post-spawning.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Stone loaches
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Eurasian stone loaches include oxygen-rich stream dwellers such as Schistura and small Vietnamese river species such as the hovering zebra loach. [fg157-sumo, fg157-hover]. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For Schistura balteata groups use a floor at least 90 × 30 cm (36 × 12 in).
- Build a stream layout with sand, rounded rocks and driftwood forming numerous caves and broken sight lines.
- Use strong filtration, aeration and some flow for Schistura; change 30–50% of water weekly.
- For hovering zebra loaches use at least 60 × 30 cm (24 × 12 in), dense plants and well-oxygenated but non-turbulent water.
- Introduce hovering zebra loaches only to a biologically mature aquarium; pH 6.0–7.5 and hardness 2–12 dGH suit both profiled species.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 71.6–78.8°F |
Diet
- Small live or frozen Daphnia and Artemia.
- Bloodworms for Schistura.
- Moina, microworms and Artemia nauplii for hovering zebra loaches.
- Appropriately sized dried foods alongside invertebrates, not as the sole Schistura diet.
Social life
- Schistura defend individual caves and can harass placid bottom dwellers; groups require territories. Hovering zebra loaches are peaceful and need at least 8–10 companions.
Health watch
- Territorial fin injuries in poorly structured Schistura tanks.
- Freshwater ich, a general aquarium risk.
- Stress-associated bacterial infections.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
Its known range is in the upper parts of the Chao Praya in Thailand but it has also been reported from the Tapi River in Peninsular Thailand, as it has not been recorded from the darainages between these two systems the taxonomic status of the Tapi population may need to be reassessed. Its habitat is slow flowing streams with depths no greater than 30 cm during the dry season and in shallow riffles with a substrate consisting of pebbles which are up to 5 cm in diameter, with a moderate current and clear water.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Zhustura geisleri” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs in stream with slow current and with depth never more than 30 cm during the dry season. Also found in shallow riffles over pebbles up to 5 cm in diameter, with clear water and moderate current. A female measuring 3.12 cm SL contained ripe ovulae about 0.7 mm in diameter. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Zhustura geisleri is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemacheilidae, the stone loaches. Its known range is in the upper parts of the Chao Praya in Thailand but it has also been reported from the Tapi River in Peninsular Thailand, as it has not been recorded from the darainages between these two systems the taxonomic status of the Tapi population may need to be reassessed. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Biology | Occurs in stream with slow current and with depth never more than 30 cm during the dry season. Also found in shallow riffles over pebbles up to 5 cm in diameter, with clear water and moderate current. A female measuring 3.12 cm SL contained ripe ovulae about 0.7 mm in diameter. — FishBase |
| History and naming | The specific name honours the German aquarist Rolf Geisler (1925–2012), in thanks for his "valuable help". — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish: Schistura balteata Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish: Micronemacheilus cruciatus (formerly Yunnanilus cruciatus) Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Disorders and Diseases of Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More stone loaches
Dwarf Zipper Loach
Paracanthocobitis zonalternans
Aquarium hobby
Grey-banded loach
Nemacheilus selangoricus
Aquarium hobby
Hovering Zebra Loach
Yunnanilus cruciatus
Aquarium hobby
Mesonoemacheilus herrei
Mesonoemacheilus herrei
Aquarium hobby
Mottled loach
Acanthocobitis botia
Aquarium hobby
Nemacheilus anguilla
Nemacheilus anguilla
Aquarium hobby