Description
Sucking Loach – Efficient Algae Cleaner with Unique Charm
Introduce a hardworking and quirky addition to your tank with the Sucking Loach (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri), a fascinating species known for its algae-eating abilities and unique sucker-like mouth. This loach is perfect for aquarium owners who want a natural cleaner to help maintain a spotless tank while also adding a bit of personality to their aquatic setup.
The Sucking Loach features a distinctive, elongated body with dark markings that can vary in shade from brown to greenish-grey. Its most striking feature is its specialized sucker-like mouth, which it uses to attach itself to surfaces and scrape off algae, making it an invaluable tank cleaner. This loach is especially effective in removing algae from glass, decorations, rocks, and plants, ensuring that your aquarium remains crystal clear.
While the Sucking Loach is peaceful, it’s an active swimmer that thrives in moderately to heavily planted tanks with plenty of hiding spots. It can be a bit territorial at times, especially when competing for space or food, so it’s best kept with other non-aggressive species. Its constant movement and algae-cleaning work make it a valuable addition to any community tank.
Key Features:
-
Natural Algae Cleaner: Its unique sucker-like mouth makes the Sucking Loach a highly effective algae eater, keeping your tank surfaces clean and tidy
-
Energetic & Active: Known for its constant activity, this loach is always on the move, searching for algae and exploring the tank
-
Peaceful but Territorial: Generally peaceful but may show territorial behavior when competing for space or food, so it's best to keep it with other non-aggressive fish
-
Adaptable and Hardy: Thrives in a variety of freshwater setups and can handle a range of water conditions
Care Guidelines:
-
Tank Size: Minimum 30 gallons for one or more loaches
-
Water Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)
-
pH Range: 6.5–7.5
-
Diet: Omnivorous – in addition to algae, it enjoys sinking pellets, live or frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), and blanched vegetables
-
Lifespan: 5–10 years with proper care
Tip: The Sucking Loach prefers aquariums with a moderate current and plenty of surfaces to graze on, such as rocks, driftwood, and tank walls. It also enjoys hiding spots where it can retreat when it feels threatened. A fine or sandy substrate is ideal for its bottom-dwelling habits. Although this loach is excellent at cleaning algae, providing a varied diet of sinking pellets and occasional live foods will keep it healthy and happy.
With its hardworking nature, quirky appearance, and algae-eating skills, the Sucking Loach is a fantastic and functional addition to your aquarium. It not only helps keep your tank cleaner but also adds a unique character to your aquatic environment.
Click & Collect
FREE COLLECTION FROM OUR STORE
Place your order online and select Click & Collect at checkout.
Livestock will normally be bagged when you arrive, helping to minimise the amount of time animals spend packaged. If you’d prefer your livestock to be ready beforehand, simply contact us in advance.
Local Delivery
DELIVERED BY TROPICAL SUPPLIES • WITHIN 25 MILES
Order from our in-store range and have it delivered directly to you using our own local delivery service.
Minimum order: £50
Local Delivery Charges:
Up to 5 miles — FREE
5–10 miles — £10
10–15 miles — £15
15–20 miles — £20
20–25 miles — £25
Distances are measured “as the crow flies” rather than by road.
Once your order has been placed, we’ll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date and time. We often combine nearby orders into efficient delivery runs, so local delivery may take a little longer during busy periods.
Ordering a large aquarium?
Please make sure someone is available to help unload the aquarium from our van when we arrive.
Dry Goods Delivery
FREE UK Delivery Over £75
Spend £75 or more on eligible dry goods and receive FREE UK delivery on orders weighing up to 20kg.
A great opportunity to stock up on food, treatments, filter media, accessories and other aquarium or reptile essentials while saving on delivery.
Free delivery applies to eligible orders up to 20kg and excludes livestock, aquariums, terrariums and other oversized items.
Qualifying orders will automatically show the FREE UK Delivery option at checkout — no discount code required.
Standard Parcel Delivery
Our standard parcel delivery charges are calculated according to the weight of your order and the available delivery service.
Orders placed before 12 noon may be dispatched the same day on our current dispatch days.
Express Pallet
75–500kg • Usually 1–3 working days
Designed for large and heavy orders that cannot be sent using our standard parcel service.
Please note: We currently dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Adding Something to an Existing Order?
If your original order hasn’t been dispatched yet, simply place the additional items as a Click & Collect order and leave us a note asking us to combine them with your existing order.
Available to Order
See something you want that we don’t currently have on the shelf? Many of our products can be quickly sourced from our suppliers.
Products marked Available to Order are not currently held in stock at our store but are available for us to order on your behalf.
Most items arrive with us within a few days and usually no longer than a week, depending on supplier availability.
Once your item arrives with us, we’ll either dispatch your order or let you know it’s ready for collection, depending on the delivery option you selected.
After receiving your order, we’ll check availability with our supplier. If there are any issues or expected delays, we’ll contact you to let you know.
Nationwide Livestock Delivery
Have your new livestock delivered safely to your door using our specialist livestock delivery service.
Minimum livestock order: £50
Thursday Delivery — £24
Order by: Wednesday, 12 noon
Dispatched: Wednesday afternoon
Delivered: Thursday before 1pm
Friday Delivery — £24
Order by: Thursday, 12 noon
Dispatched: Thursday afternoon
Delivered: Friday before 1pm
Saturday Delivery — £29
Order by: Friday, 12 noon
Dispatched: Friday afternoon
Delivered: Saturday before 1pm
Add Dry Goods to Your Livestock Order
You can include suitable dry goods with your livestock delivery, making it easy to add food, treatments, filter media, accessories and other supplies at the same time.
Please note: Livestock deliveries cannot include frozen food or heavy items such as gravel, sand or other unsuitable bulky goods. These items must be ordered separately using an appropriate delivery method.
Already Placed Your Order?
No problem. If your livestock order hasn’t been dispatched yet, place another order using Click & Collect and leave us a note asking us to combine it with your existing order.
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.