Edit Yasuhikotakia lecontei
You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.
Name
Scientific name
Yasuhikotakia lecontei
Described by
Authority Fowler, Year 1937, Bracketed
Family
Botiidae
Common names
Silver Loach
Photograph credits
All 3 credited
Summary
The silver loach, Yasuhikotakia lecontei, is a botiid loach from the middle and lower Mekong and the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong drainages of…
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 6–8
Hardness
2–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, Mekong, Mun
Writing
Etymology
Named for Dr. John L. LeConte, entomologist and contributor to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia fish collection.
Distribution
Detailed occurrence records have proven difficult to obtain but this species was described from the town of Khemmarat, Ubon Ratchathani province, eastern Thail…
Habitat
According to Rainboth (1996) this species inhabits 'bottom depths of flowing rivers' and forages under cover of dusk and darkness, spending daylight hours conc…
Aquarium size
For long-term maintenance an aquarium with base measurements of 120 ∗ 45 cm or equivalent should be the smallest 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 Yasuhikotakia spp. appear to be chiefly carnivorous they will also eat vegetative matter if available, often including soft-leaved aquatic plants. The na…
Behaviour and compatibility
Several SF members have experience with this species and all report it to be milder in temperament than some congeners such as Y. eos and Y. morleti. That said…
Sexual dimorphism
Sexually mature females are normally fuller-bodied and grow a little larger than males.
Reproduction
No reports of breeding in private aquaria exist but some Yasuhikotakia species are farmed commercially for the hobby via the use of hormones (Y. lecontei is no…
Notes
This species is sometimes confused with Y. modesta though in reality the two are readily distinguishable from one another by body shape since Y. lecontei is a …
References
References
15 on this profile