Blue Botia!

[Brookfish]

This fella dosn't often come out to play, so when I got a
pic of him I thought I would share.



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[Tamara]

what a beautiful animal. so pretty!
=)

[mommy1]

very pretty fish and picture!

[KcEE]

WooW! That's nice Brookfish!

[Brookfish]

Thanks folks!

[Ryuu]

=O thats one of my favorites that you have taken =O very cool I really like the blue grayish body color =D

[loachcoach]

Nice colorationthumbs2:

I have six of those little buggers....very active!

[cer]

How big do they get? I would love to get some!

[bluebluecow]

same love it off to do some research now

Jealous

Liz

[robflanker]

A great picture of a good looking fish!

[toddnbecka]

You only have one? They really need to be kept in groups, 3 minimum, or they will become a real problem for other fish. I had a single a couple years ago, got it to clear out the snails in my tank, didn't have stocking space for more. After it killed off my praecox rainbows one by one I had stocking space, but still returned it to the lfs.
Years ago I had a group of 3 sharing a tank with 2 spawning pairs of nicaraguense cichlids. They all got along w/out any problems.

[Dave66]

How big do they get? I would love to get some!

I quote myself:

"Larger but gentle giants are Yasuhikotakia modesta, the Red-Finned or Blue Botia of swift streams in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Topping out at 10 inches, Red-Finned Loaches have a deep, greenish blue body and in properly kept fishes rich red fins. The eye is silver and blue. Larger, well-kept fishes are very attractive. They are heavily-built, but no where near the bulk of adult Clown Loaches.

They won't bother fishes too large to eat, but although they are social like other loaches, one will be dominant. Some will gravitate to that Alpha Fish, while others may not, so make sure there are many hiding places built into you layout. They work out politics with much clicking; it's very fascinating. Once things are worked out, they do forage together and are perfectly amiable.

The tank should be scaled to their maximum size, so over a hundred-gallon tank is necessary.

Like all loaches, they should be kept in groups of six or more. Also, the substrate should be soft as this species digs a good bit looking for tidbits. They also should be the only Loach species and only bottom dweller in a tank, as they don't like other species in their territory.

They really do best in the warrens and niches of the large planted tank. Red-Fin Loaches are adaptable; pH 6.5 to 7.5 is their range, and they can handle hardness up to 12 degrees, though they seem to be most colorful in soft water with a neutral to slightly acid pH. Temperatures are 77 to 84.

As they are stream fishes, the Dissolved Oxygen level shouldn't dip below 8 mg/l, which is easy to maintain in a planted tank that is aerated at night. Filtration should be quite strong, and they do not long tolerate dissolved organics like high Nitrate, so weekly partial water changes are essential. Tank volume should be turned over about 8 times an hour with these fish.

They will take what you give them, as modesta are quite greedy eaters, so make sure just enough is fed that they can finish in less than 20 seconds. Sinking pelleted foods should be staple. Frozen and live worms and frozen shrimp and insect larvae should be a large part of the diet. Mine really liked munching on cucumber and blanched zucchini, indicating a need for vegetation. Small meals given often are best.

For reason known only to themselves this species is often dyed, tattooed or force-fed color enhancers in the Asian fish markets. Naturally, they should be a bronzy blue-grey color with yellowish or reddish fins when small. Eschew those available in unnatural colors like pinks and oranges as it is an abomination, as these fish always die early deaths. Modesta loaches commonly live well over 20 years in their natural form.

To my knowledge Red-Fin Loaches haven't been bred in aquariums."

———

From my loach primer stickied at the top of the loach forum.

[bluebluecow]

Thanks for that def would like one but dont have a tank for it

oh well I can dream of wining millions and having one

liz

[Crispy]

too bad they don't like other species of loaches around.... they'd look cool with my schoal of clown loaches.

[Brookfish]

Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated,

Todd I have 3 blue Botias, I never keep loaches or corys singley,
it must have been the way I posted the thread that confused you,
sorry mate!
Dave that is a fantastic write up mate, nice job!