Red Tailed Blue Loach Botia Yasuhikotakia Modesta 5cm

Overview

The Red-Tailed Blue Loach is a stocky, torpedo-shaped botia with a steel-blue to grey-green body and bright red or orange fins. Sold small, it grows into a large, active loach from the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It suits keepers with a big tank who can house a proper group of six or more.

• Adult Size: Around 20–25 cm (8–10 in)
• Lifespan: 10 years or more

Origin

• Native to: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
• Habitat: Flowing rivers among submerged rocks and tree roots; migrates seasonally

Feeding

• Diet: Carnivorous, takes some vegetable matter
• Preferred Foods: Sinking pellets, bloodworm, tubifex, brine shrimp, earthworms, cucumber
• Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; greedy, so avoid overfeeding and remove leftovers

Tank Mates

• Best with: Active, similar-sized cyprinids: barbs, danios, larger rasboras, other botias
• Avoid: Slow or long-finned fish, small fish, snails, shrimp

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Boisterous, can fin-nip
• Territoriality: Forms a pecking order; aggression spreads out in groups of six or more

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Challenges: Large adult size, needs a group, sensitive to poor water and medications

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, neutral, clean and well oxygenated
• Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F)
• pH: 6.0–8.0
• Hardness: 2–12 dGH
• Flow: Moderate to strong
• Tank Size: Minimum 300 litres; 150 cm footprint for a group

Final Notes

Before buying, be aware that this small fish becomes a large, long-lived loach needing a big tank and the company of its own kind. It has sharp spines below each eye that can snag nets, so handle with a container. Provide sand, plenty of caves and dim lighting; it is prone to skinny disease and reacts badly to copper. Kept in a lively group, its greying-out displays and shadowing behaviour are fascinating.