Blue Botia compatibility
- Thread starter Al KW Tan
- Start date
Any tank where a rtbs can catch a blue botai is not set up well for botai in the first place. I've not met a rtbs in 30 yrs that could catch one of a group of them. In fact mine usually
take it in turns to take the micky and tire out the sharks. Swapping over places mid chase. Then when they have had enough they dive straight into the pipes and block them. An inquisitive fish that needs something to keep it entertained. Much more so than my clown coach do, but not as much as eos, they're just downright trouble makers. Rtbs would not last in a group of botai eos.
take it in turns to take the micky and tire out the sharks. Swapping over places mid chase. Then when they have had enough they dive straight into the pipes and block them. An inquisitive fish that needs something to keep it entertained. Much more so than my clown coach do, but not as much as eos, they're just downright trouble makers. Rtbs would not last in a group of botai eos.
+1 on the eos.
Mine keep to themselves for the most part, but were beating on mbunas their size and whatever they felt like. Make my skunks look peaceful. I’d get a spiny eel for my tank but am afraid of what they’d do to another bottom dweller.
I agree that with ample territory the shark and loaches should stay out of each other’s way. Just keep an eye on them to make sure.
How big's the tank? Plenty hide-spots? Sorry if I missed it...
I have same-size RTS & 5x clowns, and clowns are less "edgy" than Y.mod. The shark chases one, then the other & eventually poops out, as per
Fishman Dave
's observations. Y.mod also get quite big (20+cm) and grow a lot faster than clowns, so shark won't be an issue very long. So, IMO:
* No less than 80Gal,
* No less than 5 Y.mod,
* No less than one good hide per bottom-fish, with one or two extra & larger as the Y.mods may pile-in. Me, I use segments of bamboo but many use PVC pipe.
Big, energetic & bright, Y.mod will eventually need a good size tank anyways.
I have same-size RTS & 5x clowns, and clowns are less "edgy" than Y.mod. The shark chases one, then the other & eventually poops out, as per
Fishman Dave
's observations. Y.mod also get quite big (20+cm) and grow a lot faster than clowns, so shark won't be an issue very long. So, IMO:* No less than 80Gal,
* No less than 5 Y.mod,
* No less than one good hide per bottom-fish, with one or two extra & larger as the Y.mods may pile-in. Me, I use segments of bamboo but many use PVC pipe.
Big, energetic & bright, Y.mod will eventually need a good size tank anyways.
Well, it's a 48"x18"..but I'm reconsidering the idea. Lots of hiding places but mostly taken up by yellow labs and mbunas, also the RTBS. The botias might come up short, as I doubt the existing occupants would give way.
You’d be surprised. When I added some eos to my mbuna tank they pushed the cichlids out.
The Blue Botias dominate all the Mbuna in my tank, which include Zebra Chilumba, Rusties, Trewassae & Red Zebras.
They all coexist just fine under the same hardscape.
They all coexist just fine under the same hardscape.
IMO, The Blue Botia is a very underrated Loach. If you are interested in a true monster loach that can hold its own with just about any aquarium fish, look at Syncrossus Helodes, the Banded Tiger Loach.
I once kept a group of six. They grew fast and were the most aggressive fish I ever had. They took care of a massive snail invasion within a few weeks.
Much too aggressive for my Green Terror & Firemouths.
I once kept a group of six. They grew fast and were the most aggressive fish I ever had. They took care of a massive snail invasion within a few weeks.
Much too aggressive for my Green Terror & Firemouths.
OK. So, this guy gets blue botias for company. ?
