Botia striata - Zebra Loach

Botiidae

Described from the Tunga River in Karnataka (previously Mysore) state, southern India. The Tunga rises in the Western Ghats mountain range and is a tributary of the Tungabhadra River, itself a tributary of the Krishna. The latter flows eastwards from Maharashtra state in the west of the country through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Botia striata has been recorded at other localities within the Krishna drainage, including the Koyna and Panchganga rivers in Maharashtra.

In a survey of fish diversity in the Bhadra River (a tributary of the Tunga) it was recorded alongside numerous other species including Puntius chola, P. jerdoni, Balitora mysorensis and Mystus armatus. Dry season water paramaters were temperature 69.8°F/21°C, pH 7.0, hardness ~ 2.5°. The substrate was composed of bedrock, boulders, cobbles, gravel, sand and leaf litter in descending order of abundance with a maximum depth of around 1.5 m and there was a degree of forest cover. The study sampled at six sites but B. striata was found at only one of them, downstream of a dam which forms a reservoir on the river (Shahnawaz et al. 2009).

Usually 80 - 90 mm.

48" x 12" x 12" (120cm x 30cm x 30cm) - 113 litres.

All botiids need a well-structured set-up although the actual choice of décor is more-or-less down to personal taste. A natural-style arrangement could include a substrate of sand/fine gravel with lots of smooth, water-worn rocks and pebbles plus one or two lumps of driftwood or twisted roots/branches. Lighting can be relatively subdued and plants able to grow in such conditions like Microsorum pteropus (Java fern), Taxiphyllum barbieri ('Java' moss) or Anubias spp. can be added if you wish. These have an added benefit as they can be attached to pieces of décor in such a way as to provide useful shade.

Otherwise be sure to provide plenty of cover as Botia spp. are inquisitive and seems to enjoy exploring their surroundings. Rocks, wood, flower pots and aquarium ornaments can be used in whichever combination to achieve the desired effect. Bear in mind that they like to squeeze themselves into small gaps and crevices so items with sharp edges should be omitted, and any gaps/holes small enough for a fish to become trapped should be filled in with aquarium-grade silicone sealant. A tightly-fitting cover is also essential as these loaches do jump at times.

Although botiids don't require the very turbulent conditions favoured by many balitorids/nemacheilids they do best when the water is well-oxygenated with a degree of flow, are intolerant to accumulation of organic wastes and requires spotless water in order to thrive. For this reason they should never be introduced to biologically immature set-ups and adapt most easily to stable, mature aquaria. In terms of maintenance weekly water changes of 30-50% tank volume should be considered routine.

73 - 79°F/23 - 26°C

6.0 - 7.5

2 - 10°H

While Botia spp. appear to be chiefly carnivorous by nature they will also eat vegetative matter if available, often including soft-leaved aquatic plants. They're largely unfussy feeders but must be offered a varied diet comprising quality dried products, live/frozen bloodworm, Tubifex, Artemia, etc. plus fresh fruit and vegetables such as cucumber, melon, blanched spinach or courgette. Chopped earthworm can also provide a useful source of protein but should be used sparingly, and home-made, gel-based foods using a mixture of natural ingredients are highly recommended. They'll also prey on aquatic snails though should not be considered a solution to an infestation since if other options are available they will take them. Once settled into an aquarium they're bold feeders, often rising into midwater.

Not especially aggressive but don't keep it with much smaller fishes as they may be intimidated by its size and sometimes very active behaviour. Slow-moving, long-finned species such as fancy bettas/guppies and many cichlids should also be avoided as trailing fins can be nipped. More suitable tankmates include open water-dwelling cyprinids such as many Devario, Rasbora, Puntius, Mystacoleucus and some Danio spp., while in larger tanks members of Barilius, Luciosoma, Balantiocheilos and Barbonymus become options.

In terms of other bottom-dwellers this species will do well alongside most other Botia spp. and in very large tanks, Chromobotia macracanthus . Some cobitid/nemacheilid loaches are also possibilities as are members of Epalzeorhynchos, Crossocheilus and Garra and many catfishes. As always, thorough research prior to selecting a community of fishes is the best way to avoid problems.

Botia spp. are gregarious, form complex social hierarchies and should be maintained in groups of at least 5 or 6 specimens, preferably 10 or more. When kept singly they can become withdrawn or aggressive towards similarly-shaped fishes, and if only a pair or trio are purchased the dominant individual will typically attack the other(s) repeatedly and may prevent them from feeding. That said they require regular contact with conspecifics, a fact exemplied by a number of behavioural rituals which have been recorded consistently in aquaria (see 'notes').

Sexually mature females are normally plumper than males and often appear to fill with eggs.

Not known to have been bred in the hobby as with the majority of botiid loaches though some, including B. striata, are being produced on a commercial basis via the use of hormones. Unfortunately this practice has been taken to a different level in recent years with a number of hybrids appearing on the market, even including an apparent cross between a form of B. histrionica  and Chromobotia macracanthus .

This species is perhaps the best choice of Botia for the beginner/smaller aquaria given its adult size and peaceable nature. Following Grant (2007) it's included in the B. dario  complex of closely-related species within the genus alongside Botia striata. They're characterised by body patterning consisting of a base yellow to golden colour with 7-9 blue, green, grey or black body bars usually with thinner, lighter bars between. In some individuals the bars break up to varying degrees in a process sometimes referred to as anastomosis meaning patterning can be highly variable, and in B. striata break up entirely in some specimens. Anyway it's one of the most easily-recognised in the genus due to its distinctive colouration and typically red mouthparts.

As currently recognised the distribution of the genus Botia extends eastwards from the Indus River basin in Pakistan across northern India, then southwards through Myanmar as far as the Salween drainage (Ataran River). This range was previously much larger but modern studies have resulted in various changes to the taxonomy of both family and genus.

For example the family Botiidae was first proposed as a genetically distinct grouping by Nalbant (2002) having previously been considered a subfamily (Botiinae) of the family Cobitidae. Nalbant also moved some previous members of Botia into the new genus Yasuhikotakia based on a number of morphological characters. Later Kottelat (2004) made further modifications to the taxonomy, raising the new genus Chromobotia for B. macracanthus  and confirming that species previously included in the genus Hymenophysa should instead be referred to Syncrossus. The former alteration was based on colour pattern plus some morphological characters and the latter because Hymenophysa not only represents a spelling mistake (McClelland's original spelling was Hymenphysa) but is a junior synonym of Botia. As a result of Nalbant and Kottelat's taxonomical/morphological works the family Botiidae thus includes seven genera divided into two tribes:

Tribe Leptobotiini - Leptobotia, Parabotia, Sinibotia.
Tribe Botiini - Botia, Chromobotia, Syncrossus, Yasuhikotakia.

Phylogenetic studies by Tang et al. (2005) and Šlechtová et al. (2006) have largely confirmed this system to be correct although the latter disagreed with the placement of Sinibotia, finding it to be more closely related to the tribe Botiini. Šlechtová et al. also proposed the use of subfamily names under the following system:

Subfamily Leptobotiinae - Leptobotia, Parabotia.
Subfamily Botiinae - Botia, Chromobotia, Sinibotia, Syncrossus, Yasuhikotakia.

Some behavioural routines exhibited by Botia spp. have been recorded often enough that they've been assigned non-scientific terms for ease of reference. For example during dominance battles (these occur most frequently when the fish have been introduced to a new tank, or new individuals added to an existing group) the protagonists normally lose much of their body patterning and colouration, a phenomenon that's come to be known as 'greying out'. Such displays will sometimes also happen within an established group as individuals seek to improve social ranking but are usually nothing to worry about. However according to reports B. kubotai  does not lose colour during such encounters and is possibly unique within the genus in that respect.

Interestingly some observations suggest that the character of the highest-ranked, or alpha, fish appears to affect that of the whole group though there scientific studies on the behaviour of botiid loaches are virtually non-existent. It certainly seems that they display a degree of 'personality' with some specimens being naturally bolder/more aggressive than others. The alpha is normally the largest specimen within the group and often female.

'Shadowing' is an interesting behaviour in which younger individuals swim flank-to-flank with older, mimicking their every movement. Some keepers report that more than one smaller fish may shadow a larger simultaneously, with even three or four on each side! The reason for it is unknown; it may relate to a group staying in touch with one another during times of flooding, when rivers swell and turbidity/flow rate increase, reducing drag by swimming 'in formation' or have some other function. At any rate it's been observed in aquaria with both high and low water flow and seems to be habitual to an extent whereby one species will shadow another if no conspecifics are present.

Sound also appears to be an important factor in communication since these loaches are able to produce audible clicking sounds, these increasing in volume when the fish are excited. The behavioural aspects of this phenomenon remain largely unstudied but the sounds are thought to be produced by grinding of the pharyngeal (throat) teeth.

A further curiosity is the so-called 'loachy dance' which involves an entire group swimming in a constant, restless fashion around the sides of the tank, usually utilising the full length and height. The reasons for this are unknown and reports as to when it occurs vary but the most common triggers appear to be the addition of food, fresh water or new conspecifics, and it can last anything from a few minutes to a day or more. Botiids also often settle at peculiar angles, wedged vertically/sideways between items of décor or even lying flat on the substrate. This is no cause for alarm and appears to be a natural resting behaviour.

All Botia spp. possess sharp, motile, sub-ocular (below the eye) spines which are normally concealed within a pouch of skin but erected when an individual is stressed e.g. if removed from the water. Care is therefore necessary as these can become entangled in aquarium nets and with larger specimens in particular break human skin.

Botiids are also susceptible to a condition commonly referred to as "skinny disease" and characterised by a loss of weight. This is especially common in newly-imported specimens and is thought to be caused by a species of the flagellate genus Spironucleus. It is treatable although the recommended medication varies depending on country. Hobbyists in the UK tend to use the antibiotic Levamisole and those in the United States Fenbendazole (aka Panacur), for example.

Literature cited

1. Grant, S. 2007 - Ichthyofile Number 2: 1-106.
   Fishes of the genus Botia Gray, 1831, in the Indian region (Teleostei: Botiidae).
2. Kottelat, M. 2004 - Zootaxa 401: 1-18.
   Botia kubotai, a new species of loach (Teleostei: Cobitidae) from the ataran River basin (Myanmar), with comments on botiinae nomenclature and diagnosis of a new genus.
3. Nalbant, T. T. 2002 - Travaux du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa" 44: 309-333.
   Sixty million years of evolution. Part one: family Botiidae (Pisces: Ostariophysi: Cobitoidea).
4. Nalbant, T. T. 2004 - Travaux du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa" 47: 269-277.
   Hymenphysa, Hymenophysa, Syncrossus, Chromobotia and other problems in the systematics of Botiidae. A reply to Maurice Kottelat.
5. Narayan Rao, C. R. 1920 - Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 9) 6(31): 45-64.
   Some new species of cyprinoid fish from Mysore.
6. Ng, H.H. 2007 - Zootaxa 1608: 41-49.
   Botia udomritthiruji, a new species of botiid loach from southern Myanmar (Teleostei: Botiidae).
7. Shahnawaz, A., M. Venkateshwarlu, D. S. Somashekar and K. Santosh. 2010 - Environ. Monit. Assess. 161(1-4): 83-91.
   Fish diversity with relation to water quality of Bhadra River of Western Ghats (INDIA).
8. Šlechtová, V., J. Bohlen, J. Freyhof and P. Ráb. 2006 - Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 39: 529-541.
   Molecular phylogeny of the Southeast Asian freshwater fish family Botiidae (Teleostei: Cobitoidea) and the origin of polyploidy in their evolution.
9. Tang, Q., B. Xiong, X. Yang and H. Liu. 2005 - Hydrobiologia 544(1): 249-258.
   Phylogeny of the East Asian botiine loaches (Cypriniformes, Botiidae) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences.
10. www.loaches.com