![]() Your dealer should also recognise this need, and under no circumstances should they keep their loaches in bare stock tanks. 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). Good choices for décor would be bogwood and slate, with which you can construct many natural looking caves for your fish to retreat into should they feel threatened. Closing up holes in ceramic décor or wood with aquarium silicon sealant can keep this from happening to you. Many Botia keepers have told horror stories about their fish becoming trapped in spaces into which they never would have considered them able to squeeze or fit. Any type of décor with rough or sharp edges can be dangerous to these curious fish. One of the favourite pastimes of most Botiine species is trying to squeeze into tight crevices, often in groups. Rocks which are rough and sharp (such as lava rock), should definitely be avoided. In some cases, particularly if the gravel is not kept free of detritus, the sores on the barbels can become infected.ĭécor should also be chosen carefully in order to protect these very small-scaled fish from harm. 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. Anything sharp must be avoided to protect the delicate sensory barbel area. The substrate should consist of either inert aquarium sand (my preferred choice) or fine smooth aquatic gravel. This will mimic their natural environment of moderately fast flowing rivers and streams - these fish can often be seen swimming against the flow in obvious enjoyment. 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. 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. 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. The water should also be low in nitrates, clean and well oxygenated. 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. As a rule, they prefer water that is soft and slightly acidic, and this should be replicated as closely as possible in the home aquarium for best long-term results. ![]() These inquisitive and predominately bottom-dwelling fish originate from quite a vast geographic area, which covers most of Asia. 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. ![]() To add to the confusion, the genus Botia was revised in 2004, placing the majority of the Botiine loaches into new genera. Unfortunately, finding any accurate information on their care can be difficult, and many wrong opinions abound. One of the greatest joys within the tropical freshwater hobby surely is keeping loaches from the genus Botia, members of the family Cobitidae.
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