{"product_id":"red-garra-doctor-fish-loach-garra-rufa-5cm","title":"Red Garra Doctor Fish Loach Garra Rufa 5cm","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Red Garra, or Doctor Fish, is a streamlined, sucker-mouthed grazer from the clear, fast-flowing rivers of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Its olive-bronze body often flushes with red-orange, and it spends the day rasping algae and biofilm from rocks and glass. It suits keepers with a mature, well-oxygenated, unheated or cool-water tank rather than a warm tropical community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Around 12 cm (5 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/em\u003e Around 5 years, sometimes longer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eNative to:\u003c\/em\u003e Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Iraq and Iran\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/em\u003e Swift, clear, oxygen-rich streams over rock and gravel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDiet:\u003c\/em\u003e Omnivorous grazer, mostly algae and biofilm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePreferred Foods:\u003c\/em\u003e Algae wafers, spirulina pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, chopped prawn, blanched courgette\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFeeding Habits:\u003c\/em\u003e Feed small amounts once or twice daily; include plenty of vegetable matter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank Mates\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eBest with:\u003c\/em\u003e Robust cool-water fish: danios, barbs, hillstream loaches, White Cloud minnows\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/em\u003e Slow, warm-water species; keeping just one or two Garra together\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAggression \u0026amp; Behaviour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/em\u003e Generally peaceful with other species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTerritoriality:\u003c\/em\u003e Squabbles with its own kind unless kept in groups of four or more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperience Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/em\u003e Intermediate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eChallenges:\u003c\/em\u003e Needs a mature tank, strong turnover and cool water; climbs glass and escapes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Parameters\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eWater Type:\u003c\/em\u003e Freshwater, cool, clear and well oxygenated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/em\u003e 14–20°C (57–68°F); not tropical\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003epH:\u003c\/em\u003e 6.0–8.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHardness:\u003c\/em\u003e 1–15 dGH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFlow:\u003c\/em\u003e Strong; turnover ten times per hour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTank Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Minimum 250 litres with a 120 cm footprint for a group\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a river fish that thrives in unheated, high-flow tanks, not the heated community it is often sold for, and it needs a biologically mature aquarium before purchase. It can literally climb the glass, so fit a tight cover. Keep four or more so squabbling is spread across the group, and provide smooth rocks with strong current for grazing. Given cool, clean, moving water it is hardy, busy and endlessly watchable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SimsTF","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64680679014777,"sku":"STF-LOACH-RED-GARA","price":5.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1026\/3124\/4153\/files\/STF-LOACH-RED-GARA.png?v=1790097152","url":"https:\/\/birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk\/products\/red-garra-doctor-fish-loach-garra-rufa-5cm","provider":"Birchwood Aquatic Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}