Panda Garra Algae Eater

Appearance & Behavior

Panda Garras (Garra flavatra) bring bold dark-and-gold banding and plenty of personality to a freshwater aquarium. These active grazers use their specialized mouths to hold onto rocks and explore surfaces for algae and biofilm. Watch them dart between smooth stones, pause in the current, and work their way across the aquascape. They are generally peaceful with other species but may chase one another while establishing a pecking order.

Quick Care Guide

• Care Level: Moderate; best in a mature aquarium
• Temperament: Generally peaceful; can be territorial with other garras
• Adult Size: Approximately 3–3.5 inches
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons; provide more floor space for a group
• Temperature: 72–80°F
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water
• Diet: Omnivore; grazes algae and biofilm but needs supplemental feeding
• Stocking: Keep individually or in a group of 4–5 or more with ample space and cover
• Tank Level: Primarily bottom and hardscape surfaces

Aquarium Setup & Compatibility

Provide a mature, well-filtered aquarium with clean, oxygen-rich water and moderate to strong circulation. Arrange smooth rocks, driftwood, and sturdy plants to create grazing surfaces, shaded retreats, and breaks in the line of sight. Include quieter areas where fish can rest away from the strongest flow. Use a secure lid and cover small openings, as garras can climb and escape.

Choose peaceful, active community fish that enjoy similar water conditions, such as suitable danios, rasboras, and medium-sized tetras. Avoid aggressive tankmates and overcrowding the bottom with competing grazers. If keeping several Panda Garras, spread feeding areas around the aquarium and monitor chasing so every fish can eat and rest. A single fish is an option when space is limited; avoid keeping just two, as one may receive persistent attention from the other.

Regular partial water changes and good surface agitation are important. Do not add them to a newly set-up tank without established grazing surfaces, and do not treat them as a substitute for aquarium maintenance.

Feeding

Offer sinking algae wafers, spirulina-based foods, and quality omnivore pellets, supplemented with blanched zucchini or other suitable vegetables. Add occasional small frozen foods such as brine shrimp or daphnia for variety. Natural algae and biofilm provide useful grazing, but algae alone is not a complete diet, and these fish will not remove every type of algae.

Feed small portions daily, make sure food reaches their preferred feeding areas, and remove uneaten vegetables before they foul the water.

Available for in-store pickup only.