Care Level: Moderate

Temperament: Semi-Aggressive

Live Plant Safe: With Caution

General Description: The Blueberry Botia, also known as the Redtail Loach or Botia, has a wide distribution in drainages and rivers across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Botias are part of the loach family Botiidae. The genus Yasuhikotakia is named in honor of the Japanese collector and researcher Dr. Yasuhiko Taki. Identified by their namesake blue-gray body and red fins, the Blueberry botia’s ideal environment would be one that is heavily decorated to encourage their inquisitive behavior, in addition to tank mates that are active. Fish with long or decorative fins should be avoided altogether. Like loaches, botias have a natural ability to control nuisance snails in the home aquarium. An adult Blueberry botia can reach a size of approximately 8″.

Diet Requirements: Blueberry botias are omnivores. A diet made up of various high quality vegetable based and protein based flake foods, tablet foods or sinking pellet foods are ideal, in addition to offering frozen foods such as bloodworms, tubifex worms, brine shrimp and other mixed freshwater preparations. Live blackworms are an appreciated treat. Variety is the spice of life in order to maintain color, immune function and longevity of your fish.

Care Requirements: An extremely established minimum 40 gallon aquarium is ideal for a small Blueberry botia. Size up accordingly to accomodate larger individuals. Blueberry botias are intolerable of nitrite or ammonia spikes. Biweekly or weekly water changes are encouraged to keep water parameters ideal (Nitrates < 30 ppm). Deteriorating water parameters will stress Blueberry botias, making them more susceptible to health issues or disease, such as Ich. Given the rivers in which they come from, Blueberry botias require more turbulent water flow and a well oxygenated environment. The aquarium should be aquascaped with a fine substrate, smooth rocks, driftwood, flower pots or various other furnishes to create caves and hiding places. Blueberry botias are to be added “with caution” to live planted aquariums because they have been observed to feed on soft plants. Thicker plants, such as Anubias spp., will likely be left untouched. Blueberry botias are not suitable for community aquariums given their occasional semi-aggressive nature. Conflict may also arise with other similarily shaped fish. Multiple Blueberry botia can be kept together if introduced all at once. Recommended water conditions, 74-84° F, KH 0-15, pH 6.0-8.0.

Purchase Size: Medium: 2-1/2” to 3”

Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.