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Members of this family are bottom-dwelling fishes, and may be recognized as such by their flat ventral profile and underslung mouths, complete with barbels. In the aquarium, Loaches may be nocturnal, although some soon lose their shyness and venture around the tank during its illuminated periods. The fishes often make hiding places themselves by burrowing under rocks or into a tangle of aquarium plants. Most prefer to live in a community rather than as solitary specimens. The majority of Loaches have erectile spines, a defence weapon mainly, and these may catch in the aquarist’s net. There are many varieties to choose from, each with a differing colour pattern or body form, but they are all difficult to catch with a net.

Skunk Botia; Hora’s Loach; Mouse Loach

Botia horae 90 mm 31 in. Indonesia : slow-moving waters. An attractive smaller Loach in this group. A grey/green body with a dark line running from the snout along the top of the back and crossing the body immediately in front of the caudal fin. The scales are very small, and fishes of this genus appear to have a matt finish. Some may have thin transverse lines on the flanks. The erectile spine is carried below the eye. A fairly active fish, but it may be timid if alone in a community collection. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: prefers worms and insect larvae, but will take dried foods, often in mid-water. Breeding: no information available.

Pakistani Loach; Reticulated Loach

Botia lohachata 110 mm 41 in. India and Pakistan : slow-moving waters. A very striking Loach. The body colour is silver/grey with Y-shaped dark markings on the flanks, interspersed with black blotches. The patterning is continued into the fins. An active fish, more so at evening times, which burrows under rocks and plants. Temperature:24^°C (75^°F). Diet: as for B. horae. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

Clown Loach; Tiger Botia

Botia macracantha 200 mm 8 in. Indonesia : slow-moving waters. A very attractive fish. Three black bands encircle the bright orange body. The dorsal and anal fins are black with orange edges; the other fins are red, with streaks of black in the caudal fin. Susceptible to White Spot disease, and some sources suggest that medicants are not well tolerated. This species grows much larger in nature. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: as for B. horae. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium regularly, but spawning has been reported.

Chain Loach; Dwarf Loach

Botia sidthimunki 55 mm 21 in. Far East : slow-moving waters. The smallest of the Botias, this species has a gold body marked with a dark, chain-link pattern down to midway across the flanks. The lower links may join to form a horizontal line. The fins are clear, except for the caudal fin, which bears some patterning. Less timid than other Loaches, it enjoys the company of its own species. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: all foods. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

Orange-finned Loach

Botia modesta 190 mm 7^,1 in. Malay peninsula, Thailand : slow-moving waters. Has a steel-blue/grey body with a vague dark blotch immediately in front of the caudal fin. The fins may be yellow or orange. Often confused with B. lecontei, but most sources agree that B. modesta is the stockier fish. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: as for B. horae. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

Zebra Loach

Botia striata 85 mm 31 in. India : slow-moving waters. The body is covered in a large number of narrow, dark stripes. The snout is not so pointed as in other species. The fins are patterned. A slow-growing species. Fairly shy, often given up for dead due to its non-appearance, but a hardy fish. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: as for B. horae. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

Kuhli Loach; Coolie Loach

Acanthophthalmus kuhli 110 mm 41 in. South-east Asia : streams and rivers. This genus gets its name, meaning ‘thorn-eye’, from the spine over the eye. It has a worm-like body, flattened laterally at the caudal peduncle, and an underslung mouth with barbels. A pink/yellow coloration, with two or three dark bands encircling the head and gill cover. A large number of dark bands (often split longitudinally) almost ring the rest of the body, but do not cover the belly. The fins are colourless. Frequents tangles of plant roots and may form a tangled mass with its brothers and sisters. Several species of Acanthophthalmus are available. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: worms, but will scavenge for other foods. Breeding: possible.

Nichols’ Loach

Noemacheilus nicholsi 65 mm 21 in. India, Far East : slow-moving waters. Has a cylindrical body shape, but its finnage is more conventional than in Acanthophthalmus. A number of vertical dark bands ring the red/brown body almost completely. A narrow, dark band crosses the caudal peduncle and there is a small, dark dot at the base of the dorsal fin. Fond of perching on its ventral and anal fins when at rest. Temperature: 24^°C (75^°F). Diet: worms preferred, but usual foods taken. Breeding: not yet bred in the aquarium.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 12:53 am and is filed under Fish, Fish Tank, Tropical Fish, aquarium. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.