Edit Parabotia lijiangensis

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Name

Scientific name

Parabotia lijiangensis

Described by

Authority Chen, Year 1980

Family

Botiidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 1 credited

Summary

Parabotia lijiangensis is a botiid loach described from the Li River drainage near Guilin, in the Pearl River system of southern China. It …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

83mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–24°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

5–20dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

China, Gui, Li, Xi, Zhu

Writing

Etymology

Named for the Lijiang River, type locality of the species.

Distribution

Described from the Li River (Li Jiang) drainage close to the city of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China, but we've been unable to obtain …

Habitat

Probably a riverine loach favouring clear, well-oxygenated, running water with substrates of rocks and/or gravel. Other members of the genus are present in bed…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with a base measuring 120 ∗ 30 cm or similar should be the minimum considered.

Maintenance

Best maintained in a set-up designed to resemble a flowing stream with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, gravel and some water-worn boulders. This can be fu…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Likely to be an opportunistic, benthic predator feeding on insects, crustaceans and perhaps fish fry in nature. Captive specimens aren't fussy but should be of…

Behaviour and compatibility

Not especially aggressive but much smaller fishes might be intimidated by its size and sometimes very active behaviour. Slow-moving, long-finned species such a…

Not especially aggressive but much smaller fishes might be intimidated by its size and sometimes very active behaviour. Slow-moving, long-finned species such as fancy bettas or guppies and many cichlids should also be avoided as trailing fins may be nipped at.

More-suitable tankmates include peaceful, open water-dwellng cyprinids, and it can also be maintained alongside other Chinese botiids including Leptobotia and Sinibotia spp., as well as Botia spp. from India and Myanmar.

Some cobitid and nemacheilid loaches are also possibilities as are members of Epalzeorhynchos, Crossocheilus, and Garra plus many catfishes. As always, thorough research prior to selecting a community of fishes is the best way to avoid problems.

Parabotia spp. are generally quite peaceful with conspecifics and as with other botiids seem to appreciate being maintained in a group, meaning that 3-4 specimens should ideally be the minimum purchase.

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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.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

Sexually-mature females should be heavier-bodied than males.

Reproduction

Unrecorded in aquaria, but presumably a seasonal, perhaps migratory, spawner in nature.

Notes

It's unlikely this species has been exported for the aquarium hobby, though it's possible the occasional specimen may be found among shipments of similar-looki…

References

8 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