fish · Cyprinidae
Doctor fish
Garra rufa
Wild range: Middle East: Jordan, Orontes and Tigris-Euphrates basins and coastal rivers of southern Turkey and Syria, south into southwestern Iran (FishBase; Seriously Fish). (Asia)
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At a glance: Doctor fish care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Doctor fish?
The compiled profile lists 15.0–28.0 °C for Doctor fish (Garra rufa). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Doctor fish?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 63.0 US gallons (240.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Doctor fish?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 6.5–8.0. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
The doctor fish is a small Middle Eastern cyprinid best known for nibbling dead skin in fish spas. In the aquarium it is an active bottom-dwelling grazer with a sucker-like mouth that scrapes biofilm and algae off rocks. It comes from cool, fast, oxygen-rich streams, so it suits a river-style tank with strong flow rather than a warm community tank. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Where they are found
Primary name Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843), valid in ITIS (TSN 689117), FishBase and Catalog of Fishes. Older synonyms: Discognathus rufus, Discognathus obtusus, Discognathus crenulatus, Garra rufa obtusa, Garra rufa crenulata, Garra rufa gymnothorax (Seriously Fish; Atlarium; Diszhal). Seriously Fish notes that G. rufa as currently defined probably covers a complex of closely related species, so it is unclear which population the farmed trade fish belong to, and some sellers may supply other Garra species under this name (Practical Fishkeeping). Not to be confused with the marine surgeonfish also called doctorfish. Size: FishBase gives a maximum of 14.1 cm TL; most fish reach about 10 to 12 cm (Practical Fishkeeping; Aquatic Arts; Seriously Fish). Wild temperatures range from about 15 to 28°C, and some populations live in hot springs (FishBase; Practical Fishkeeping). IUCN: Least Concern (assessed 2013; FishBase).
Aquarium care
Keep it at 15–28°C, with pH 6.5–8.0 and 5–15 dGH. Sources disagree on temperature: the stored range is FishBase/Atlarium's 15–28°C (also Aqua-Pedia and Diszhal); coldwater sources (Seriously Fish, Aquatic Arts and TankBud) prefer 14–20°C with no heater, and Atlarium suggests 22–25°C long term. Give a group at least 240 L / 63 gal with a 120 × 45 cm footprint (Seriously Fish; Aqua-Pedia); some guides accept 150–180 L (Atlarium; Diszhal). It needs strong flow, turning the tank over about 10 times an hour, plus high oxygen, which powerheads or airstones can provide (Seriously Fish; Atlarium; Aquatic Arts; Diszhal). Add it only to a mature tank with established biofilm, use bright lighting to grow algae on rocks, and fit a tight lid, because it jumps and can climb glass (Seriously Fish; Aquatic Arts; Diszhal).
Feeding
An omnivorous grazer of algae, biofilm and aufwuchs, but not a pure herbivore (FishBase; Seriously Fish). Feed sinking spirulina or algae tablets and pellets, blanched vegetables such as cucumber, courgette or spinach, and frozen or live bloodworm and brine shrimp. A tank won't grow enough algae to feed a group, and spa or shop fish are often underfed, so feed generously from the start (Seriously Fish; Atlarium; TankBud).
Compatibility
Generally peaceful toward other fish but squabbles with its own kind and similar-shaped fish, especially if kept singly or in a small tank; keep a group of 5 or more so the pecking order stays within the group (Seriously Fish; Aqua-Pedia; TankBud; Atlarium). Pick tankmates that like cool, fast water. Its constant grazing can pester slow, flat or long-finned fish, so avoid discus, angelfish and gouramis (Atlarium).
Breeding
Rarely bred in home aquaria; trade fish are produced on commercial farms, possibly with hormone induction (Seriously Fish; Atlarium). Wild fish scatter eggs over gravel or rocks with no parental care. Females are thicker-bodied, and mature males develop breeding tubercles on the head and snout (Seriously Fish; Atlarium).
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.