Species Snapshot
- Species Name: Garra flavatra
- Common Names: panda garra
- Size: 2.5-4 inches
- Lifespan: 4-6 years
- Native Distribution: Southeast Asia, Myanmar
Perfect for planted aquariums—particularly southeast Asian biotope tanks—the panda garra (Garra flavatra) is an attractive species. Sometimes called the panda garra loach because of its loach-like appearance and behavior, the panda garra is actually a cyprinid species related to carp and minnows.
Anatomy and Appearance
The panda garra is a fairly small member of the family Cyprinidae. These fish have elongated bodies with a flat underside and a rounded head. They’re sometimes confused with loaches due to their body shape, but they’re not related.
Panda garra is dark brown in color, sometimes with a greenish tinge, and covered in vertical bars of yellowish color. Their pectoral and anal fins are large and fanlike to enable these fish to navigate fast-moving currents.
Ideal Aquarium Setup
Native to Myanmar in Southeast Asia, the panda garra inhabits shallow, fast-flowing water. Their natural habitat tends to be low on vegetation with lots of rocks, though these fish can easily thrive in a planted aquarium under the right conditions.
Tank Size
Panda garra generally grows to a length between 2 and 4 inches, depending on the availability of food. A minimum tank size of 20 gallons is recommended. Though panda garra may live in loose groups in the wild, they need a lot of space to do so in captivity. At least 30 gallons of water volume is recommended if you plan to keep more than one panda garra at a time.
Water Parameters
The most important quality in a panda garra tank is clean water. Proper filtration is essential but it’s also essential to create water flow. A sponge filter can provide a backup source of biological filtration but a canister filter with an adjustable flow rate is preferable. You can also use powerheads to increase water flow in your tank.
The ideal water parameters for panda garra are:
- Temperature: 72-82°F
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- KH: 6-10 dKH
- GH: 2-12 dGH
Panda garra are fairly adaptable but they don’t tend to do well with significant fluctuations in water quality or temperature. If the ambient temperature where you live drops below 70°F or swings to higher extremes, it’s best to install a heater in your tank to help keep the water temperature stable.
Tank Décor
Panda garra does best in a tank with plenty of rocks and driftwood for decoration. Not only do these decorations offer places to hide, but they provide surfaces on which algae and biofilm can grow—these are some of the panda garra’s most important food sources.
Aquarium plants can be a beneficial addition to a panda garra tank, though it’s best to choose hardy varieties that can withstand a higher degree of water flow. Anubias and other plants that can be attached to rocks or driftwood are ideal.
Diet and Feeding
Panda garra are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of meaty foods as well as biofilm and algae in the wild. In captivity, biofilm and algae are the primary source of grazing food for panda garra but may not be sufficient to meet all their nutritional needs.
Offer an array of live or frozen meaty foods like bloodworms or chopped shrimp as well as sinking pellets and wafers. Panda garra may also eat blanched vegetables or fresh fruit.
Because biofilm plays an important role in this species’ diet, panda garra should only be introduced to mature aquariums. The tank should be well-lit to encourage the growth of biofilm as well.
Temperament and Tank Mates
The panda garra is generally a peaceful species, though it tends not to get along with others of its kind unless the tank is very large. Because they’re an active species, they’re best suited to tankmates who won’t be stressed by a lot of movement. It’s also wise to avoid keeping panda garra with other fish that have a similar body shape.
Breeding Panda Garra Loaches
Though relatively straightforward in terms of general care, panda garra can be difficult to breed in captivity. Part of the challenge is keeping more than one in a tank without problems with aggression. Another issue is differentiating between males and females.
It’s very difficult to sex juvenile panda garra, so you may need to raise your fish separately and sex them once they’re mature. Males tend to be slimmer in body while females have a more rounded shape. Male panda garra also develop tubercules on their heads and may exhibit changes in tail color during breeding season—some develop a noticeable red hue.
Panda garra in the wild are seasonal breeders, spawning during the rainy season between May and July. A breeding tank for panda garra should be highly oxygenated with a neutral pH and low level of total dissolved solids (TDS). Feed the fish a high-protein diet and maintain high water quality in the tank.
If you succeed in getting your panda garra to spawn, it’s wise to remove the adults from the tank so they don’t eat the eggs. Panda garra eggs are very small and translucent, so they might be hard to spot. They take 1-2 days to hatch, after which point you’ll need to start feeding the fry. Keep in mind the fry will also feed on biofilm, so make sure the tank is well-lit to encourage biofilm growth.
Other Interesting Facts
- Panda garra are skilled jumpers, so it’s important to keep a tight-fitting lid on your aquarium to prevent accidental escape.
- This species doesn’t tolerate others of its kind in small tanks. If you want to keep a group, aim for at least 4-6 panda garra in a large tank to reduce aggression.
- Panda garra can change their color in response to stress or aggression. They may become paler in color with the rest of their body mirroring the lighter coloration of the stripes.
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