Calling All Loach Fans

[The-Lion]

Hi, all after the whooping my Pakistani loaches gave my RTBS I’ve decided to replace them so I’m after another small peaceful loach to do a similar job. I already have 5 Khullies in the tank I intend to home em in (Rio 180) so your thoughts & suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[jarmado]

i have a pair of yoyo's and will be getting 3 more of the polkadot's...
lively/lovely creatures...
might consider 2 more zebra's afterwards...

 

[Bloo]

I have 3 Botia Kubotai (Polkadots) with a lone Kuhli in my Vision 180 - great characters

 

[The-Wolf]

Hi Lion
are you looking for a similar sized loach or one that will stay smaller?

similar sized I'd go with the polkadot
smaller then go for B.rostrata, B.striata or
Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki (formerly Botia sidthimunki)

if you want something different look out for any of the "sand" loaches
from the genus Nemacheilus or Schistura
niether of which get huge (unlike some botias) but both have great personalities.

 

[Bloo]

Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki (formerly Botia sidthimunki)

ooo interesting - didn't know they had a name change

 

[The-Lion]

Cheers Bloo, i Jay, I think I saw some Botia kubotai at Wildwoods at the weekend (one of the many names I tried to remember to look up when got home & naturally forgot ) I think I’ll give these ago. I just had quick read up nothing mentioned about group sizes + it says they may squabble amongst them selves have you noticed this & will two be ok?

Cheers The Wolf decision on hold will have a read up on yours suggestions

 

[The-Wolf]

LIon
I didn't realise that you could get to wildwoods.
They often have quite a few of the "sand" loach species instock

good luck with your search

 

[Bloo]

Cheers Bloo, i Jay, I think I saw some Botia kubotai at Wildwoods at the weekend (one of the many names I tried to remember to look up when got home & naturally forgot ) I think I’ll give these ago. I just had quick read up nothing mentioned about group sizes + it says they may squabble amongst them selves have you noticed this & will two be ok?

Cheers The Wolf decision on hold will have a read up on yours suggestions

I've found that mine indeed had squabble between themselves quite often. Now I have 3 and have only witnessed it once since then. So the more the merrier is definitely the motto ! (if you have space of course). They're just not cheap

 

[The-Lion]

A new name enters the ring what do you think as you point out Bloo size may be a factor so may go for this or the Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki instead
Botia nigrolineata (Black Lined Loach )

Botia nigrolineata (Black Lined Loach )

 

[The-Wolf]

IMHO
if you can get the blacklines do so,
as pointed out in the link very rare in the UK

 

[The-Lion]

Their on the wildwood stock list i'm already going up there tomorrow so here's hoping

 

[Bloo]

IMHO
if you can get the blacklines do so,
as pointed out in the link very rare in the UK

They have them in Wholesale Tropicals I've actually avoided them (they share the same tank as the Sidthimunki)

The Sidthimunki are very cute little things indeed - but entirely different in nature to the Kubotai for insance. These little things are insanely fast and zipping around the place all the time non stop. Cute though I've just increased my group to 6 in my planted tank. They're 4 for £24.

 

[The-Lion]

I present to you Botia Nigrolineata (Black Lined Loach) well went for these in the end a bit of uming & arghing but something about these grabbed me & it had to be them.

 

[Bloo]

Beautiful ! How are they settling in ?

 

[The-Lion]

Yeah their settling in just fine, couldn’t put them the tank I intended for them as I noticed some thing up one of my Danios, so they went in a tank that has my Clown loaches & RTBS in it was really comical watching the argie bargie as they all tried to fit in the same cave, they have that stubborn way about them similar to my khullies & weren’t giving ground to no one. But they’ve all settled & have been exploring absolutely every where.