Edit Botia kubotai
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Name
Scientific name
Botia kubotai
Described by
Authority Kottelat, Year 2004
Family
Botiidae
Common names
Polka-Dot Loach
Photograph credits
All 14 credited
Summary
The polka-dot loach, Botia kubotai, is a botiid loach that appears to be endemic to headwaters of the Salween basin in Myanmar and Thailand…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
150mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
2–10dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Myanmar, Thailand, Ataran, Hanthayaw, Kasat, Megathat, Salween, Suriya
Writing
Etymology
Named for Katsuma Kubota.
Distribution
Appears to be endemic to headwaters of the Salween River basin around the border between Myanmar and Thailand. The type specimens were collected from the Megat…
Habitat
No mention of habitat is made in the description paper but the images we've seen from both rivers depict relatively slow-flowing sections of forest-shaded, see…
Aquarium size
Base dimensions of 120 ∗ 45 cm or equivalent should be the minimum considered.
Maintenance
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…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
While Botia spp. appear to be chiefly carnivorous they will also eat vegetative matter if available, often including soft-leaved aquatic plants. The natural di…
Behaviour and compatibility
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, l…
Sexual dimorphism
Sexually mature females are normally fuller-bodied than males with a rounded snout, whereas males have an elongated snout with noticeably fleshier lips.
Reproduction
In 2008 SF member Mark Duffill recovered a single, young (~40 mm SL) specimen from a large community aquarium containing several adults alongside various other…
Notes
This species was available in the hobby prior to being described and is still sold under various trade names including Botia 'angelicus', 'marbled loach', 'Bur…
References
References
9 on this profile