Tiger botia (Botia Syncrossus)

Should you appreciate aquarium fish with striking appearances and bold personalities, the Tiger Botia (Botia Syncrossus) could be the ideal addition to your tank. This striking fish is well-known for having bright stripes that resemble tigers. The Tiger Botia, which is native to Southeast Asia, is a vibrant and interesting addition to your aquarium in addition to being a visual delight.

The lively and inquisitive nature of these fish makes them especially beloved. They frequently dart around and engage with anything they come across because they enjoy exploring their surroundings. They are an intriguing option for any aquarium enthusiast who likes to watch vibrant aquatic interactions because of their vivacious nature.

But caring for Tiger Botias needs some attention. To keep them content and healthy, you’ll need a well-thought-out tank setup with lots of hiding places and an effective filtration system. It is also best to keep them in groups as this reduces stress and gives them a sense of security. These fish will reward you with their lively activity and distinct charm if you’re willing to provide an appropriate habitat.

Topic Tiger Botia (Botia Syncrossus)
Common Name Tiger Botia
Scientific Name Botia Syncrossus
Origin Southeast Asia
Size Up to 10 inches (25 cm)
Tank Size At least 75 gallons (280 liters)
Water Conditions pH 6.0-7.5, temperature 75-82°F (24-28°C)
Diet Omnivorous, accepts pellets, flakes, and live or frozen foods
Behavior Active, social, prefers to be in groups
Tank Mates Peaceful, avoid smaller fish
Special Needs Needs hiding spots and plenty of swimming space

Beardmore"s Botia (Syncrossus berdmorei) Blyth, 1860

Habitat

Central Thailand, Myanmar, and India.

As of right now, all of Myanmar’s river systems—the Irrawaddy, Sittaung, and Salween—are home to this species.

It is found in the northeastern Indian border state of Manipur to the north of this range, and in a small area of western Thailand to the south, where it is a tributary of the Salween-Atapan.

The upper reaches of the Ataran River have clear, well-oxygenated water, a mixed sandy-rock substrate, plenty of submerged snags and fallen leaves, and areas shaded by forest.

Description

The most remarkable and alluring in its grace and beauty, embodying all of the Tiger Botias. ochre-brown with reddish-colored dots adorning the tip of the dorsal fin. Its dorsal half is covered in rows of dark oval spots of varying sizes, black stripes that run from the nose through the eyes, and two black stripes that cross the nose. In contrast to other members of the group, it maintains its vivid, contrasting coloring throughout adulthood.

Its appearance is strikingly similar to that of S. beauforti. Even though they may look the same at first glance, there are some noticeable differences. The most obvious one is that S. berdmorei has 11–14 rays of branched dorsal fins, whereas S. beauforti has 9–10 rays. Another difference is that even young S. beauforti has small dark spots spread horizontally across their body and head, whereas S. berdmorei has relatively larger spots that appear primarily behind their gill covers in young individuals and eventually spread further down their bodies as they mature.

The vertical body stripes in certain adult specimens of both species vanish, leaving only rows of dark markings—a feature that is more prevalent in S. beauforti.

Size limit: 200–250 mm.

Water parameters:

T 21–26 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, dH up to 12

Due to its vivid stripes and lively behavior, the Tiger Botia (Botia Syncrossus) is a fascinating addition to any freshwater aquarium. This species is best kept in clean tanks with lots of hiding places and a diet of frozen or live food. They are a favorite among aquarium enthusiasts due to their eye-catching appearance and playful nature, but in order to keep them happy and healthy, they need to have enough room and care. You can create a thriving environment for these fascinating fish by having a thorough understanding of their needs and behaviors.

Green Tiger Botia (Syncrossus hymenophysa) Bleeker, 1852.

The most aggressive species, in contrast to most other botias.

Habitat

Malaysia and Indonesia (Borneo and Sumatra)

Together with the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan in Borneo and the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the Musi River basin is part of the South Sumatra Province in Sumatra, Indonesia. Recognized in Peninsular Malaysia’s river systems of Pahang and Perak.

Recorded in a range of habitat types, including lakes, main river channels, and small mountain streams in their upper reaches. They are found in different habitats depending on the season, migrating to flooded areas to feed and spawn during the rainy season.

The habitats themselves also differ; during the rainy season, for instance, water currents and depths tend to increase significantly. The water temperature typically drops during this period, and turbidity and pH typically rise as well. frequently connected to submerged items like floating logs, tree roots, and branches.

Description

Color varies from yellow to gray-green with 10–13 transverse stripes that are blue-black in color. Young animals have silvery-gray stripes.

Although there are a few differences between this species and S. helodes, the most noticeable ones are the absence of small, dark markings on the lower body and the presence of a dark spot on the dorsal fin. In addition, its body features 12–15 vertical stripes with bluish borders, as opposed to S. helodes’s 10–12 stripes without bluish borders.

Maximum S. hymenophysa and S. helodes sizes are 170–210 mm and 250–300 mm, respectively.

Water parameters:

T 25–30 °C, pH 5.0–7.5, dH 2–15 °

Behavior and compatibility (general)

Big, aggressive fish that are active at dusk and at night. They prefer to spend the day hiding in shelters and lead a bottom-dwelling lifestyle. These botias need to be kept in groups of at least five or six, ideally ten or more, as they are social beings that create intricate social hierarchies. When housed alone, they may grow distant or hostile toward other fish that have a similar shape.

Individual fish become less aggressive when they are in a school. This lessens the fish’s innate aggression and enables them to more fully display the behavioral aspects of their species. Gradually, a group leader emerges who will, in his opinion, take up the best position. He will aggressively go after his kin, but he generally avoids smaller ones. These aggressive fish are best kept in aquariums with phlegmatic counterparts. It is not advisable to group them with smaller neighbors.

They are able to make audible clicking sounds when they are excited.

Their infatuation with mollusks as food is well known. For them, snails—even big ampullaria—are a delicious treat.

Aquarium

It is advised to keep it in sizable aquariums. For long-term maintenance, an aquarium needs to have a minimum capacity of 200 liters.

Conflicts arise from a lack of room, with other aquarium occupants as well as with members of their own species.

There should be a lot of shelter in the aquarium, such as caverns, hollow snags, and thick vegetation. These botias can fight over territory if there aren’t enough spots to rest; this usually happens quite noisily but innocuously. They are active during the day when there are enough shelters. Since fish prefer to burrow in substrate in search of food remnants, sand or small gravel makes a better substrate. prefers softer, softer lighting. A securely fastened cover is crucial, as they occasionally leap from the water.

Water parameters (optimal):

It is between 25 and 27 °C. pH range: 6.5 to 7.5 Intensity: 5–12 dH

It is necessary to have active aeration, filtration, and weekly changes of one-third of the water. Pure, nitrate-free water is a further essential. It was ideal if there had been a small current.

They adapt best in a stable, mature aquarium; they should not be placed in a biologically immature system.

Nutrition

They eat everything; they are not finicky eaters. They adore brine shrimp, bloodworms, corethra, daphnia, and premium dry food in addition to live and frozen foods.

They won’t turn down food that has been supplemented with plants. Adult botias are occasionally treated to shrimp flesh.

Sexual Dimorphism

Compared to males, adult females are larger and have a rounder, fuller belly.

Breeding

In nature, sprouting is probably migratory and seasonal.

No instances of natural spawning in aquariums have been verified.

They use hormonal injections to procreate. The average fertility of a female botia is estimated to be between 4,000 and 6,000 eggs. They swell to a size of roughly 2 to 2.5 mm. At a temperature of 28 °C, caviar develops in 18 hours. In a month, with proper nutrition, the fry grow to a length of roughly 1.5 cm. In order to raise fry and teenagers to adulthood, an aquarium that is at least 120 cm long is necessary. The aquarium’s volume should be raised as the fish get bigger.

Average lifespan of 6–8 years.

An intriguing addition to any freshwater aquarium is the Tiger Botia, also known as Botia Syncrossus. It infuses your tank with beauty and energy with its vivid stripes and lively behavior. These fish are interesting to watch and have good interactions with their environment in addition to being visually pleasing. But because of their active lifestyle, they need lots of room and a carefully thought-out setup in order to flourish.

Tiger botias are social animals, so it’s important to keep that in mind when caring for them. Since they like to hang out in groups, it’s a good idea to keep a few of them together. This demonstrates their innate behaviors and gives them a sense of security. Their happy and healthy living conditions can be ensured by providing them with a diverse substrate and hiding spots in a tank.

The keys to keeping your Tiger Botias in top condition are to provide a balanced diet and to maintain the proper water conditions. Even though they are very resilient, they still need good food and routine tank maintenance. These fish are a terrific option for both novice and experienced aquarium keepers because, with the correct care, they can be a vibrant and long-lasting addition to your tank.

Video on the topic

Syncrossus hymenophysa (Botia hymenophysa) Tiger Botia

Tiger Botia [ Syncrossus hymenophysa ]

Tiger Botia (Syncrossus hymenophysa).

Many different botias in a 240 l aquarium #Botia#loaches

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Ivan Kononov

Experienced aquarist with an emphasis on breeding and keeping exotic aquarium fish. Author of many articles and books on the topic of aquarium keeping. Always in search of new species and interesting solutions for home aquariums. I believe that an aquarium is not only a home decoration, but also a means of studying nature and its laws.

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