Aquarium fish Botia – unpretentious in care and problematic in reproduction, is it worth keeping in your aquarium?

Many aquarium enthusiasts favor botia fish as their aquarium fish of choice. These fish are well-known for their vivid hues, lively demeanor, and capacity to adjust to different tank settings. Botia could be a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a fish to give your aquarium life and movement.

Though they are generally simple to care for, breeding botia fish can be quite challenging. It is challenging for many owners to breed these fish in a home aquarium. It’s a common question this challenge poses: is it worth keeping them?

Description of appearance, history of appearance, main types

Botia are members of the Vyunov family, which aquarists do not particularly like. Still, Botia’s intriguing qualities allowed it to draw notice.

Because they reside in the lowest water layers, botia have a distinct appearance.

A high caudal fin and a torpedo-shaped body characterize botia. Multiple pairs of sensitive barbels are located near the mouth, enabling the fish to sift through the soil in pursuit of food. There are suckers on the ventral and pectoral fins that allow the Botia to cling to rocks or other obstacles.

All Botia are distinguished by the bony spines found in unique sinuses beneath the eyes. They usually lie folded, but they will suddenly stand up if they sense danger. Even with such a powerful "weapon," they are omnivorous fish, meaning that a significant portion of their diet consists of plant matter.

The size and color of the body depend on the type of Botia; among them are gray, unsightly fish and colorful, noticeable fish. Gender differences are not well expressed.

Southeast Asian tropical rivers are the birthplace of boats. The species Botia macracantha was discovered in 1852 by a Dutch scientist and went on to become one of the most well-liked by aquarists.

These fish are also known by the name Clown Botia, which comes from their peculiar orange-black coloring and upbeat disposition (they can click endlessly).

The species Botia Morleti was identified in 1855. The silver-gray body of these fish is easily identifiable, with an expressive black line running from the upper lip through the back to the tail.

A few years later, in 1865, scientists found the gray-blue-colored Botia modesta species, which turns bright blue in low light.

1920 brought two more fascinating species to the aquarium community:

• Marbled Botia, whose coloring resembles marble patterns;
• Botia striata (Zebra), it received this name for its amazingly bright color: many dark transverse stripes on a silvery body.

Because of their hardiness and low maintenance needs, botia fish are a great addition to many aquariums and are a good choice for both novice and seasoned aquarists. Even though they are simple to maintain on a daily basis, home aquarium settings can present challenges for their reproduction. In light of this, Botia may be a fish worth considering for your tank if you’re looking for an easy-care fish that isn’t interested in reproducing.

How much live in an aquarium?

Botia typically have a lifespan of four to ten years, depending on the species, size, and care given to the fish. There are true long-liver Botias in the wild, with lifespans up to 20 years. The fish get a little boring as they get older, but they still have a great appearance.

Feeding

Botias eat anything, as was previously mentioned, so a varied and well-balanced diet is ideal. They eat voluntarily:

• larvae;
• bloodworms;
• dry flakes;
• frozen food.

It is particularly crucial to consider the plant food that fish require. For instance, a lot of aquarists feed their fish melon, cucumbers, and zucchini.

Botias will graze algae in the absence of plant food, but vegetables should also be fed sparingly to prevent their leftovers from contaminating the water.

Since they typically eat in the dark, it is best to feed them in the evening after the room and aquarium have been completely darkened. However, since many species will eat at any time, you must follow a strict feeding schedule.

These fish can survive for two or three days without eating; in fact, some sources suggest scheduling fasting days on a regular basis because Botias are prone to obesity.

Don’t leave them hungry for too long because they will try algae and eat all the tiny snails if they are severely malnourished.

Aquarium requirements

Because botias live on the bottom, the aquarium owner must provide a sizable enough bottom area for the plant. Make sure the aquarium you select is long and wide—its height is irrelevant. A lid or cover glass should be placed over it because the fish can jump out.

These fish shouldn’t be kept in an aquarium that has just been set up because they react badly to abrupt changes in the water’s parameters. Boats should not be launched into the container until it has been home to other species, algae, and other inhabitants for two to three months.

Optimal water characteristics

Although the requirements for various types of Botia vary, the general features can be boiled down to the following suggestions:

• temperature – from 24 to 27 ° C (some types like cool water – up to 22 ° C, while others, on the contrary, require a warmer environment – up to 29-30 ° C);
• hardness – on average, 6-20 ° GH (the most popular type, Clown Botia, prefers soft water – 6-12 ° GH);
• acidity – 6.5-7.5 pH (for some Botia, these values ​​​​may deviate upward or downward).

Furthermore, the fish owner needs to keep an eye on the fish’s ammonia and nitrate levels; these should ideally not be present in the aquarium. In any event, each week, 25 to 30 percent of the total water volume needs to be replaced.

Optimal water volume

The largest size that an adult Botia can have determines the aquarium’s approximate volume.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that these fish are housed in schools with at least five other people.

Aquariums should be sufficiently large in this regard; for small species, for instance, a capacity of 100 liters is appropriate. For routine maintenance, some species (like Clown Botia) need at least 200–300 liters.

Plants

Although botia enjoy eating algae, it is preferable to have plants in the aquarium that have a different purpose—namely, shielding the nocturnal fish from light. Thus, broad-leaved algae (Villisneria gigantea, Nymphaea) or floating plants (Riccia, Pistia) are ideal. Although they are not as pretty as food, hard ferns and mosses can be used to adorn the container.

Soil

Species that live on the bottom and spend a lot of time there are called botia. They also actively search for food by digging in the ground and using their antennae for this purpose. They even frequently sleep on their sides, directly on the bottom, which terrifies novice aquarium keepers. As a result, you must select large, uniform sand or small, smooth pebbles for the soil.

It is crucial to keep in mind that these fish establish a rigid hierarchy within their school, and that weaker members occasionally require a variety of hiding places to protect themselves from the dominant Botia. This means that numerous snags, caverns, and other man-made shelters must be positioned on the bottom.

Equipment

Because they inhabit tiny rivers, botia require clear, oxygen-rich water with a gentle current. It is essential to use a filter, compressor, and extra pumps to help create water movement in order to create the right conditions.

Lighting nuances

Since most varieties of Botia live in twilight, bright lighting is not ideal for them. The fish’s health will decline and they will merely hide from bright light.

Of course, we must not overlook the fish’s ability to hide in shelters.

As a result, soft lighting and keeping the aquarium out of direct sunlight and other light sources are both recommended.

Settlement

Since botia live in schools in the wild, they cannot be kept in aquariums by themselves. Typically, a group consists of five or more people; only in these circumstances will the fish feel at ease.

Furthermore, they exhibit excessively hostile behavior in small schools and persistently pursue the most vulnerable students. Large groups of fish will diffuse the attention of the acerbic fish among themselves, preventing conflicts. As females typically behave more peacefully than males, it is preferable if there are one or two more females than males.

Compatibility with other fish

According to some aquarists, Botia is a very hostile fish that constantly harasses its neighbors. In actuality, these fish can coexist peacefully with a variety of species and behave quite nicely in the right maintenance conditions.

However, keep in mind that Botia are very large, active fish, so cohabitants should share similar traits when stocking the aquarium. The species listed below are most suitable for cohabitation:

• Angelfish;
• Rainbowfish;
• Gourami;
• Barbs;
• Large viviparous.

Fish with long veil fins, like goldfish and bettas, should not be added because Botia will bite them. Disputes with Corydoras also come up frequently.

Breeding

Fish that lay eggs and travel great distances to spawn are called botia.

Since it is nearly impossible for Botia to reproduce in aquariums, the owner must replicate a complicated alteration to the water’s parameters.

Typically, spawning is stimulated by the use of special gonadotropic drugs. Although pregnant females become larger and fuller than non-pregnant females, they are nearly identical to males. The eggs are artificially expressed following the injections, and the male’s milk is used to fertilize them.

After that, the eggs are put in a spawning area and left to float in the water for a while. Eventually, the larvae hatch after a day or so. Three more days pass, and the fry start to move and consume tiny food. Botia grow slowly; at one month old, their length has only increased to 1.5 cm.

Aspect	Description
Care Level	Botia fish are easy to care for, making them a great choice for beginners. They adapt well to various water conditions.
Feeding	They enjoy a diet of flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods like worms and brine shrimp. Feeding is simple and doesn"t require specialized foods.
Social Behavior	Botia are generally peaceful but prefer to be in groups. They get along well with other non-aggressive species.
Tank Size	Bot

For aquarium enthusiasts, botia fish can be a great option, particularly if you’re looking for a species that’s relatively easy to care for. They are entertaining to watch due to their vivid colors and energetic behavior, and they are well-suited to a variety of water conditions due to their modest demeanor. You won’t have to worry about taking care of them on a daily basis.

However, even for more seasoned hobbyists, breeding Botia fish can be difficult. If you intend to increase the size of your Botia family, you may encounter some challenges as they are known to be difficult to reproduce in captivity. Before deciding to keep them, it’s something to think about.

Overall, botia fish can be a great addition to your aquarium if your main concern is appreciating the fish’s beauty rather than breeding them. They’re captivating, striking, and typically low

Video on the topic

MARBLED BOTIA – CARE, MAINTENANCE, BREEDING l UNPRETENTIOUS ZEBRA LOACH l AQUARIUM FISH #18

Marbled Botia. Maintenance in an aquarium and breeding

Botia fish species. Maintenance in an aquarium, compatibility

Botia and everything about their maintenance!