Blue Botia compatibility

[latapy10]

I saw some blue botia that I'm interested in. The thing is the only tank I can put them in is my african cichlid tank with a red tailed black shark. Read that it shall not work out, but would appreciate some expert advice over here.

botia modesta for me is very territorial and nasty fish.It was sillent killer in my tank-it killed 20 cm gymnotus carapo and 15 cm black ghost knivefish...and attack the other fishes...I would recommend to keep botia modesta only with other botia modesta...

 

[Deadeye]

botia modesta for me is very territorial and nasty fish.It was sillent killer in my tank-it killed 20 cm gymnotus carapo and 15 cm black ghost knivefish...and attack the other fishes...I would recommend to keep botia modesta only with other botia modesta...

Did it starve them out or attack them? I think it doesn’t help that knives aren’t the best defended against aggression. Something like a cichlid can easily compete much better.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

In case anyone reading this thread gets the wrong ideas, I'd at the very least take care mixing them with cichlids. While red tail loaches may be one of the loach species mean enough to stand up to cichlids (and even then that's a may be), the water chemistry must be overlapping for both.
These articles are a good read on that:

Why Loaches Should Not Be Kept With Malawi Cichlids — Loaches Online

An overview of why these two very different types of fish are not suitable for housing together.

www.loaches.com

Blue Botia (Yasuhikotakia modesta) — Loaches Online

www.loaches.com

 

[A201]

I've kept a group of five Y. Modestas with all three groups of African Cichlids for several years w/ no problems.
They are boisterous & grow big & thick, but they seem to just pick on each other.
I've since transitioned the main tank to a more peaceful community, which include, various Barbs, Tetras, other varieties of Botias & two juvenile Chocolate Cichlids. Still no problems.
Here's an old pic of one of the Red Tails w/ a hybrid Mbuna.

 

[A201]

Lol, I see I've already commented on this. Sorry for the repeat.

 

[latapy10]

Did it starve them out or attack them? I think it doesn’t help that knives aren’t the best defended against aggression. Something like a cichlid can easily compete much better.

my botia modesta attack them.from tail to head....i was very unhappy to see dead knivefish like carapo or black ghost...

 

[latapy10]

I saw some blue botia that I'm interested in. The thing is the only tank I can put them in is my african cichlid tank with a red tailed black shark. Read that it shall not work out, but would appreciate some expert advice over here.

your blue botias would be ok.but not other fishes with them....

 

[Fishman Dave]

If I am not mistaken those look like jewel cichlid, which can certainly look after themselves. That said, the tank decoration is currently not favourable to keeping blue botai, or black shark or jewels for that matter (IMO).

As for keeping blue botia with knives then, there are very few fish I would keep with knives outside of the typical “peaceful community” list ( that can’t be eaten) as they can be very either end of the scale ie. either very delicate or very aggressive.
Very surprised to find blue botia in a tank would actively be aggressive to knives though if in a group with multiple suitable hideouts and stimulation.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

For those who do insist on mixing their red tail loaches with cichlids, the jewels certainly are a good choice. There's no conflicting water chemistry as is the case with Rift Lake species.

 

[A201]

The Y. Modesta is a riverine species with a rather expansive range. It's a pretty safe bet that the Modesta frequent waters with many varying water parameters.
They must be a very adaptable species. My water is hard w/ 8.2 PH.
The Red Tails thrive in it & have grown quite large.