{"product_id":"red-tailed-blue-loach-botia-yasuhikotakia-modesta-5cm","title":"Red Tailed Blue Loach Botia Yasuhikotakia Modesta 5cm","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Around 20–25 cm (8–10 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/em\u003e 10 years or more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eNative to:\u003c\/em\u003e Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/em\u003e Flowing rivers among submerged rocks and tree roots; migrates seasonally\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDiet:\u003c\/em\u003e Carnivorous, takes some vegetable matter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePreferred Foods:\u003c\/em\u003e Sinking pellets, bloodworm, tubifex, brine shrimp, earthworms, cucumber\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFeeding Habits:\u003c\/em\u003e Feed once or twice daily; greedy, so avoid overfeeding and remove leftovers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank Mates\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eBest with:\u003c\/em\u003e Active, similar-sized cyprinids: barbs, danios, larger rasboras, other botias\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/em\u003e Slow or long-finned fish, small fish, snails, shrimp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAggression \u0026amp; Behaviour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/em\u003e Boisterous, can fin-nip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTerritoriality:\u003c\/em\u003e Forms a pecking order; aggression spreads out in groups of six or more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperience Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/em\u003e Intermediate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eChallenges:\u003c\/em\u003e Large adult size, needs a group, sensitive to poor water and medications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Parameters\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eWater Type:\u003c\/em\u003e Freshwater, neutral, clean and well oxygenated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/em\u003e 23–28°C (73–82°F)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003epH:\u003c\/em\u003e 6.0–8.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHardness:\u003c\/em\u003e 2–12 dGH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFlow:\u003c\/em\u003e Moderate to strong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTank Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Minimum 300 litres; 150 cm footprint for a group\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBefore 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SimsTF","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64680678326649,"sku":"STF-LOACH-BLUE","price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1026\/3124\/4153\/files\/STF-LOACH-BLUE.png?v=1790097151","url":"https:\/\/birchwoodaquatics.myshopify.com\/products\/red-tailed-blue-loach-botia-yasuhikotakia-modesta-5cm","provider":"Birchwood Aquatic Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}