90–168) Geographikê Hyphêgêsis (Handbook of Geography). Botia loaches are often employed to exterminate a pest snail infestation, so it is advisable to avoid the botia family of loach if you wish to maintain your snail population. I was advised at least 3 when I got mine. Fish under this size are generally weaker and may not do well unless fed intensively, which is not usually possible in the confines of the home aquarium. Yes they will,, if you crack the snails shell.. otherwise they cannot. If you keep a large group, the aggression will be spread amongst the shoal, so that no one fish becomes constantly victimised and overly stressed. They usually perform their dance when it is getting close to feeding time, and they are very obviously excited. We are a family friendly community with an incredible resource of information for fish owners and enthusiast alike. With a maximum size of 10 cm (4 in) it is much more suited to smaller tanks, and will co-exist peacefully with all other species. Scientific name: Ambastaia sidthimunki (Kottelat, 2012) Common name: Dwarf Chain Loach, Dwarf Loach, Dwarf Botia, Chipmunk Botia, "Sid". It is a white coloured fish with black markings along its body more-or-less in alternating shapes of ‘Y’ and ‘O’ earning it the popular international common name of Yo-Yo Loach. - February 2021 Tank of the Month (31 Gallons and larger), Tank of the Month, One of the favourite pastimes of most Botiine species is trying to squeeze into tight crevices, often in groups. Tiger Botia grow large, some up to 25 cm (10 in), so be sure to provide them with ample space. The Golden Zebra Loach (Botia almorhae), also known as the Burmese or Silver Striped Loach, is native to India and throughout Myanmar. Who said assassin snails won't eat my shrimp?? Some species (which I will discuss later) are more aggressive than others. For the more peaceful species, you should invest in some ‘dither fish’. Botia almorhae was first described in 1920. But, be warned! Botia almorhae (formerly known as Botia lohachata) is frequently available in the UK or US under the name Pakistani Loach. Some fish can get along with snails without killing them off but most loaches like to eat at least a ... if you don't like snails..... any pretty loach that comes to the front of the glass for most of the day in a planted tank gets my vote. Juvenile Lohachata Botia Loaches have a gold to silver metallic sheen that turns a gray to green in adults, without the sheen. This is good if you are trying to get rid of a population of snails but not good if those snails are a welcomed addition to your tank. Clowns can live for decades (some sources suggest up to fifty years) if cared for correctly, so they are a life-long investment and should be treated with respect. Loaches, being river fish, are accustomed to living in the clean fresh waters that their native waterways provide – they are not used to the build-up of organic wastes that can occur all too easily in the closed system of an aquarium, so regular partial water changes are essential. Angelicus loaches, and no other Botia loach for that matter, should not be kept with snails, at least not if you want the snails to live!! You can also supplement the diet with slices of cucumber, courgette (zucchini), or even melon, held in place with a marine ‘lettuce grip’ or weighed down with some aquatic plant weights, which the loaches should thoroughly enjoy. These bottom-dwelling fish require their own food source, and this should be as varied as possible. It is a fairly peaceful species, although squabbles do sometimes break out between individuals within the shoal, or with other Botia sp. This small species can be extremely nasty, and they are best housed in a large tank because of their aggression level. Ideally, the tank will have been set up for a few months before they are introduced. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month. you can keep these guys in schools of 4. Books, websites, or dealers that suggest six inches as a maximum size are simply advising incorrectly. Very sadly, this fish is now critically endangered in the wild due to the building of man made dams along the rivers of its native Thailand. Loaches Online These inquisitive and predominately bottom-dwelling fish originate from quite a vast geographic area, which covers most of Asia. I have found Microsorium pteropus (Java fern) and Anubias species to be the most robust, and seem to outlast the loaches attentions the longest. But I would imagine more is preferable. This species is nocturnal, so for best viewing purposes, employ the use of blue moon lighting set to come on for a few hours just as the main lights switch off. These loaches make a fascinating addition to the smaller aquarium not only because of their size, but also due to a rather unusual habit - that of shoaling out in the open above the bottom level of the tank for many hours of the day (unlike most other Botiine loaches). Three unconnected “Y” markings typically occur in adult and juvenile specimens which give rise to one of their common names, the Yoyo Loach.. This fish, of Indonesian origin is sold, more often than not, to unwary aquarists to help rid their tank of snails. This should be attempted with caution, regularly monitoring the tank to ensure that the other inhabitants are not becoming victimised. Males exhibit redness around barbels and mouth. The Redtail Botia Loach appreciates caves, holes, and other places to hide, especially when it sleeps. The most important feed is the one at the end of the day when the lights go out – as I have said previously, most loaches prefer subdued lighting and not all will be confident enough to venture out until the light levels are reduced. The percentage of people who told that they had seen Kuhli loach eating snail was 33%. without any obvious aggression. If you cannot see yourself being prepared to provide this sized aquarium for them, you should instead invest in a species that does not reach the same proportions. They are yellow in color with diagonal black striations. Closing up holes in ceramic décor or wood with aquarium silicon sealant can keep this from happening to you. In the wild, they’re capable of reaching a max size of 6 inches in length. However, I once added a shoal of thirteen of these fish into my large Clown Loach aquarium, where they wreaked utter havoc and nipped at the fins of all the Clowns, even those that were huge in comparison. Please Reference this article for more about pH & Gh: Aquarium Chemistry 5 Things to Consider - AquariumNexus Fishes of the genus Botia in the Indian Region - part 1, Fishes of the genus Botia in the Indian Region - part 2, Loach Book Published by Loaches Online Editors. Botia striata is one of these species. I have seen loaches which have been kept on coarse gravel for several years with very worn-down barbels; it is a sad sight to see and is so easily avoidable. Sexual Dimorphism: Mature females likely to have a rounder abdominal area. Suitable dither fish would include for example, barbs, danios, rasboras, and tetras, but this will be dependent upon which loach species you choose to keep – some are not so friendly! It is thought to reach a maximum size of around 15 cm (6 in), and can be kept with most community fish, although very tiny or long-finned varieties are probably best avoided. A 20 gallon or larger tank is recommended. They will usually form a pecking order, with a fish known as the ‘Alpha loach’ quite obviously in charge – this is usually (but not always) the largest loach in the aquarium and is often a female. Beware of dyed specimens, which still unfortunately enter the trade. The Skunk Loach Yasuhikotakia morleti, (previously Botia morleti and Botia horae) was described by Tirant in 1885. Once acclimatised and released into the tank, you should leave the lights off for several hours afterwards in order to allow them to explore their new surroundings in relative darkness. *Water Parameters: temperature 75F-82F (23.8C-27.7C), pH 6.5-7.5, Gh 150-300ppm. Probably the most readily available of what I would term a ‘small and peaceful species’ would undoubtedly be the Zebra Loach (Botia striata) from India. Unfortunately, finding any accurate information on their care can be difficult, and many wrong opinions abound. Backwaters, ponds, lakes are typical habitats for yoyo loach. They are a beautiful fish with shimmering golden-brown bodies, a black mid-dorsal stripe from head to tail, and a spotted caudal fin. This is where they appear to dive bomb in a shoal, up and down at the sides and corners of the tank. Summary . Botia are very sensitive to less than good water conditions, and therefore should not be the first fish added to a new aquarium. Without a sufficient number of hiding spots, the loaches will be in a permanently stressed-out state and therefore vulnerable to problems such as white spot (Ichthyophthirius mulitifiliis). Juveniles sport a black twin bar (ladder like) pattern on a white-gold background, and as the fish mature, this transforms into a net-like reticulated pattern. You should aim for at least two partial changes per week, removing and replacing a total of twenty-five percent total tank volume weekly, at the minimum. To add to the confusion, the genus Botia was revised in 2004, placing the majority of the Botiine loaches into new genera. Most will say no!! Ideal tank mates would also include loaches from the Tiger Botia group, (now known as Syncrossus sp), such as S. hymenophysa, S. helodes, and S. berdmorei. Botia Dario, also known as the Queen Loach or Bengal Loach, tends to vary in temperament. Diet, tank size, and genetics are all major factors that influence how bit these fish can get. While they may acclimatise to water of a medium hardness, it is simply unfair to force these fish to adapt to inappropriately high levels of hardness and pH. In this article, I hope to provide solid information on the proper care of these wonderful fish, and show you how a shoal of loaches can really liven up your aquarium. You need to keep the water quality and tank in pristine condition if you hope to see that kind of lifespan. Tiger botia need schools to prevent excessive hiding. Once settled, they are relatively long lived and will reward you with all the social interactions of their natural behaviours. I regularly see my shoal of forty Clown loaches doing this in the evenings under blue moon lighting. ... Loaches will also readily eat snails and shrimp, so avoid invertebrates. Nevertheless, if you can provide them with spacious aquaria, you will be rewarded with amazing displays of natural behaviours. They'll eat almost anything they are offered, from flake to frozen to freeze-dried foods. These fish develop social bonds with each other and find comfort in the form of a shoal of others of their own kind. They have been reported to reach up to 15 cm (6 in) in their native streams of India and Bangladesh, but most specimens I have seen have not attained quite that size, 10-12 cm (4-5 in) is more usual. Botiine loaches have powerful weapons concealed just under their eyes in the form of suborbital spines, which they can use as defence mechanisms. Adults are very powerful fish and require a great deal of swimming space – the footprint of the tank is always more important than the height. ), sinking carnivore pellets, algae wafers, Tetra Prima, and frozen foods such as white mosquito larvae (their favourite), brineshrimp, daphnia, krill, mysis etc. The loaches should have been rested after import for several weeks before sale to ensure that no problems arise. Avoid fish that appear lethargic with clamped fins, or fish that are painfully underweight. Vote Now! should I get a lohachata botia loach or a Tiger Botia Loach (Botia hymenophysa) or what else would be the best at eating the snails from my freshwater plants. To keep these magnificent fish, you will need to house smaller specimens in a tank at least four feet long, and be prepared to move them into a minimum 6’ x 2’ x 2’ when adult. The Dwarf Botia, more popular as Dwarf chain Loach, is one of the best small loaches that would eat snails and snail eggs in smaller fish tanks. I can’t recommend this species enough! A relatively recent discovery, Botia kubotai, sometimes known as the Polka Dot Loach, hails from fast flowing waters in Myanmar. However, they are aggressive characters and are not suited to the general community aquarium environment. Loaches like to be able to poke their heads out of their caves and see other fish swimming about, letting them know that it is safe for them to come out and play. Appears to be endemic to headwaters of the Salween River basinaround the border between Myanmar and Thailand. At the shop where I work, we have an extensive selection of loaches (usually between thirty and forty species at any given time). Snails and Botia striata. Habitat: Distribution / Background. Because of their slightly more feisty nature, some sources suggest keeping solitary individuals, but this will merely heighten their aggression level towards other fish species. This fish, of Indonesian origin is sold, more often than not, to unwary aquarists to help rid their tank of snails. I probably throw in 50 snails a day into my loach tank and they are gone by the next morning. Do Loaches Eat Snails? Larger specimens may even require a third layer. Scientific Name: Botia almorhae (Gray, 1831) Common name: Yoyo Loach, Almorha Loach, Pakistani Loach, Reticulated loach Synonyms: Botia lohachata Distribution: India, Nepal, Bangladesh. Botiine loaches will appreciate a good flow in the aquarium, which can be provided by spray bar returns from external filters or via the use of additional powerheads. These fish love to eat freshwater snails. The Yoyo Loach goes by the scientific name Botia almorhae, and is also known as the Almora loach. 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