Edit Botia udomritthiruji

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Name

Scientific name

Botia udomritthiruji

Described by

Authority Ng, Year 2007

Family

Botiidae

Common names

Emperor Botia

Photograph credits

All 6 credited

Summary

The emperor botia, Botia udomritthiruji, is a botiid loach known only from the Tanintharyi River drainage in southern Myanmar. Known since …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

150mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 23–28°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

1–8dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Myanmar, Tanintharyi

Writing

Etymology

Named in appreciation after Kamphol Udomritthiruj.

Distribution

Known only from the Tanintharyi River drainage in Tanintharyi (previously Tenasserim) Division, southern Myanmar. Tanintharyi lies on the Kra Isthmus and the r…

Habitat

No information is given in the description paper but presumably similar to other members of the genus.

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…

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 ornamental bettas, guppies and many cichlids should also be avoided as trailing fins can be nipped.

More suitable tankmates include peaceful, open water-dwelling cyprinids, while in larger tanks members of Barilius, Luciosoma, Balantiocheilos and Barbonymus become options.

In terms of other bottom-dwellers they will do well alongside most other Botia and in very large tanks, Chromobotia macracanthus. Some cobitid and 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 may stress the other(s) to the extent that they stop feeding.

That said they seemingly require regular contact with conspecifics, a fact exemplied by a number of behavioural rituals which have been recorded consistently in aquaria (see ‘Notes’).

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

Separate authors with semicolons, e.g. Tan, H.H.; Ng, P.K.L.

Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

Describe what you saw, or which part of the source says this.

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

Not known to have been bred in the hobby as with the majority of botiid loaches though some, not including B. udomritthiruji so far, are being produced on a co…

Notes

This species has been known since 1993 and was occasionally traded as B. sp. 'Tenasserim' prior to description. Ng (2007) gives its distinguishing features as …

References

10 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References