Ecomare

Spined loach is found most often in the Netherlands in ditches and streams that have thick sandy (mud) bottoms. It is a greyish brown to yellowish fish with exceptionally attractive dark brown spotted markings. The males are sexually mature at two years of age and grow to a maximum length of eight centimeters. Females are sexually mature at three years of age and are longer, up to fourteen centimeters. Spined loach breaths through its intestines just like the mud loach. It uses its barbels to search for food on the bottom. Spined loach eats worms (tubifex) and larvae from mosquitoes and other small insects, as well as microscopic algae and detritus.