Compatibility Question

[razorkai]

Hi all

I'm considering buying 4 Botia Kubotai to add to my long established tank but I just want to make sure there are no compatibility problems before I do. Currently have the following

1 Bristlenoe Pleco
5 Bosemani Rainbows
4 Gold Tetra
12 Neon Tetra
2 Siamese Algae Eaters
6 Zebra Loach

Any problems with the new fish?

TIA

 

[loachman]

Should be fine.

I've got rainbows, botia kubotai, botia striata, and bristlenose plecs together.

 

[razorkai]

Should be fine.

I've got rainbows, botia kubotai, botia striata, and bristlenose plecs together.

Well I bought the kubotai on Saturday and on Monday I noticed one of the Zebra Loach had his dorsal fin missing. So today I bought some Melafix to treat it. I'm now watching the same loach fighting with one of the kubotai. It's been going on for ages now and they seem to be really biting each other. Really worried, is this normal? Will it settle down before they kill each other?

 

[CKutz]

i'm curious to know if two loach species will school together.

i know some loaches will have long battles, but i thought they generally didn't hurt each other
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile87.html
it might also sort of be a dominance issue?
if it caused that much damage iw ould definately seperate them for awhile, and treat the injured one.

just my opinion. don't know too much about it, but wouldn't want to risk it becoming serious.

 

[fatheadminnow]

What size tank do you have?

-FHM

 

[razorkai]

What size tank do you have?

-FHM

It's a juwel rio 180 litre. Not sure of dimensions off top of my head

 

[fatheadminnow]

I agree with Ckutz theory, that those two different species do not mix that well.

Your tank is big enough for them, but with the other fish/loaches you have, there might be some competition on territory.

Botia Kubotai need a lot of hiding places.

Have you provided enough hiding places for them? Some where they can go to clam their territory?

-FHM

 

[razorkai]

Well I did add another piece of driftwood to provide more places to hide but I thought they would shoal together. In general they all seem happy together except for the two that are fighting. Think they are both the two largest of each type of loach so maybe they are establishing who is the alpha fish. They've stopped fighting now and I saw the striata chase the botia away. Will have to monitor this carefully

 

[fatheadminnow]

Good theory.

It seems to me that they are trying to also establish their own territories as well.

-FHM

 

[CKutz]

i'm curious to know how these two species end up getting along, so keep us posted..i'd like a group of loaches for my tank, but if it could be a group of two different types that'd be even better..but i can't really sort out if it would work out or not.

 

[razorkai]

Well a few months on and thought I'd give an update. The Zebra with the torn fins never seems to have enough. He just starts to heal his fin and is looking almost normal when he gets involved in another fight and ends up back to square one. I have just been watching him poke his fins into one of the frequent battles that the kubotai have. Two of the kubotai are doing that mad spinning dance thing that they do, and the zebra keeps on nipping in and trying to get involved. This ends up annoying the kubotai to the point where they stop fighting each other and turn on him instead! He never seems to get the message and keeps on coming back for more.

The worrying difference is that when the kubotai fight they end up perfectly fine at the end of it, but when he joins in he always gets damaged fins for his trouble. Can't figure out what to do. Catching either species would be a major nightmare as they are so quick and would require a major tank strip down. Not sure whether it is the zebra that is the problem or the kubotai!