Panda garra care guide
Also called: Clown garra, Rainbow garra, Banded butterfly garra
The panda garra is a black-and-yellow banded stream fish that grazes algae on rocks and glass. Keep 3 or more in a 30-gallon (110 L), 3 ft (90 cm) tank with strong flow, high oxygen and a tight lid.
Panda garras need a tank of at least 29 gallons (110 L), a group of 3 or more, and water at 22–25°C (72–77°F) with a pH of 6.5–7.5. They grow to about 8.5 cm (3.3 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with panda garrasSee all tank mates
Panda garra quick facts
| Scientific name | Garra flavatra |
|---|---|
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Origin | Rakhine (Arakan) hill streams, western Myanmar (farm-bred in Myanmar since 2008; some are still wild-caught) |
| Adult size | 8.5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Minimum tank | 29 gallons (110 L), at least 90 cm (35 in) long |
| Temperature | 22–25°C (72–77°F) |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 2–12 dGH |
| Group size | 3 or more (group) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 5–8 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Mostly (nibbles soft plants) |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
Tank setup
A group of three needs at least a 30-gallon (110 L) tank about 3 ft (90 cm) long. Build a stream bed with sand, gravel, rounded stones, driftwood and tough plants like Anubias or Java fern, since soft leaves may get nibbled. Add a powerhead so the filter and pumps move the tank volume around 8–12 times an hour. A tight lid is a must, because it can climb glass and jump.
How many panda garras in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits panda garras is a 40 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Panda garras (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | 3–17 |
| 55 gallon | 3–24 |
| 75 gallon | 3–32 |
| 125 gallon | 3–54 |
What you need for panda garras
Sized for a 29 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 3 panda garras. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 29 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 29 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 242 lb (110 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 75 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 74 °F (23.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 115–175 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 45 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 30 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for panda garras
- Sinking pellets or wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottom feeders need food that reaches the floor.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 29 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Panda garra can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Keep it at 22–25°C (72–77°F), pH 6.5–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. Clean, oxygen-rich, moving water matters more than exact numbers. Warmer water holds less oxygen, so add an airstone if you keep it near the top of the range. Change water weekly.
Best tank mates for panda garras
These popular species share panda garras' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 74 good matches.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 18–25°C (64–77°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Avoid keeping panda garras with
- Oscar: Oscar can eat panda garras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Panda garra 22–25°C (72–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda garras.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda garras.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Panda garra 22–25°C (72–77°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Panda garras don't belong in that setup.
Feeding
It is not a pure algae eater. Feed sinking pellets or wafers with spirulina, plus frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp or daphnia a few times a week. It also grazes biofilm and algae, and some take blanched vegetables.
Behavior
It is peaceful with other species and usually ignores tankmates. In its own group, males keep up rank fights with charges and fin flaring, so give plenty of rocks and sight breaks. Keep at least three, as a lone fish can turn pushy toward similar-shaped bottom fish. Good tankmates are danios, small barbs and peaceful loaches that also like clean, moving water.
Breeding
Farms in Myanmar have bred it since 2008. It spawns seasonally, roughly May to July, and running water matters for both spawning and fry growth. Eggs hatch in about a day, and fry are raised on egg yolk, then baby brine shrimp.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Aim for 8–12 tank volumes per hour of flow. A small powerhead makes a big difference.
- Keep three or more to spread out squabbles. More is better in a longer tank.
- Cover every gap in the lid. Garras can climb the glass and slip out.
- Feed meaty and sinking foods too. It is an omnivore, not just an algae cleaner.
- Hillstream loaches can share its tank if you keep the water at 22–24°C (72–75°F), where both are comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
How many panda garras should be kept together?
Keep at least three, and five or more in a bigger tank. In a group, squabbles are spread out and each fish stays calmer.
Do panda garras eat algae?
Yes, they graze algae and biofilm off rocks, wood and glass. They still need sinking foods every day and meaty foods a few times a week.
Are panda garras shrimp safe?
Mostly. They are not known as shrimp hunters, but they eat small meaty foods and will take baby shrimp they find. Dense moss helps more shrimplets survive.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.