Botia kubotai - A Spotted Beauty from Southeast Asia
Botia kubotai is a popular loach originating from the border region of Thailand and Myanmar. It grows up to 14-15 cm and it is important to keep it in a group. There are occasional reports that individually kept ones nibble on the fins of smaller fish. In groups of 5-8 individuals, they live a very social life.
They love hiding places and a large tank with aquatic plants with a volume of over 200 liters. More resistant plants such as Anubias (Anubias spp.) or ferns (Microsorum spp.) are ideal, as more delicate plants often disappear quickly from the tanks in the presence of these lively loaches. We use soft water, free of nitrogenous substances, otherwise there is a risk of more frequent infestation with ectoparasites and subsequent death.
As food, we most often use tubifex, bloodworms and other insect larvae, or molluscs. If we want to get rid of snails in the aquarium, this fish is an ideal option. Snails are their delicacy.
In emergencies, they also accept frozen or artificial food, and we add a plant component, ideally spirulina. Breeding is successful for those who can use hormones in fish. Human chorionic gonadotropin PRAEDYN is ideal, and carp pituitary is used in case of emergency.
Images:
- Kubotai Loach – male.
- In Asia, loaches are bred in the thousands with the help of hormones.
- All loaches need hiding places.
- Kubotai loaches from Asian breeding facilities swim in European tanks.
- Katsumo Kubota is a respected Japanese man living in Thailand, a well-known dealer in aquarium fish. He is a friendly companion who speaks not only Japanese, Thai and English, but also Russian. He still remembers Russian from his childhood, when he lived with his parents in Siberia (Photo: Heinrich Bayer).
