squirrelrabbits
Fish Fanatic
I have a 10G tank that has been set up for a couple of months. I started it with three platys, then later added a botia, and again recently added another platy and another botia. The new platy didn't survive 48 hours... but the real topic of my post is the interaction between the two botias (my lfs called them "strawberry botia" and "blueberry botia" but I know these are not technically their genus--though they do describe their colors). Anyway, Strawberry (the newer botia) appears to be picking on Blueberry relentlessly, to the point where Blueberry, who likes to be on the bottom of the tank in a cave, now hides out on top of the tank in the corner ... until Strawberry comes and gets him. Long chases then ensue, that appear to involve some serious nipping and biting. I should add that there are several hiding spots in the tank, but Strawberry will not let Blueberry hang out in any of them. This is very puzzling to me, since Strawberry came from a community tank in the LFS, where he was doing his lazy Botia thing---lying in a line together with three or four other Botias (including blueberrys) like sardines.
My question is, is this normal Botia behavior or should I perhaps return strawberry to the LFS? I have begun another (30G) tank but it is not yet cycled so I have nowhere else to put Strawberry here at home.
Thanks in advance.
My question is, is this normal Botia behavior or should I perhaps return strawberry to the LFS? I have begun another (30G) tank but it is not yet cycled so I have nowhere else to put Strawberry here at home.
Thanks in advance.