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Black-Lined LoachNegro Loach, Blackline LoachFamily: Cobitidae Yasuhikotakia nigrolineataPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken ChildsBe the first to add a comment! The Black-Lined Loach is peaceful, attractive, active and playful... a great all around aquarium fish!Black-Lined Loach Contents The Black-Lined Loach Yasuhikotakia nigrolineata is a very active yet peaceful fish. They are not as shy of light as many Botias and will be out and about, playing during the day. A small group of these loaches will make an attractive addition to a community aquarium. This loach is relatively new to the aquarium hobby, being first described as a separate species in 1987. Black-Lined Loach has two dark stripes, one running along the side from its nose to its tail and another close to the top of its body. As a juvenile it can have darker, chain-like, vertical markings between the two stripes. Its background color is lighter below the middle stripe and a darker golden tone above. Other common names it is known by are Negro Loach and Blackline Loach. Some reports say that chain type markings can show up on the Black-Lined Loach when it reaches about 1 3/4" in length, (though some reports say the Black-Lined Loach never has vertical markings). This chain type marking is common on its close relative the Dwarf Loach or Chain Loach Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki. Neither of these two loaches have vertical markings once they mature, but the Black-Lined Loach is distinguished by having two horizontal stripes on each side while the Dwarf Loach has only one. The Black-Lined Loach enjoys the company of their own species and will do best in a group of five to seven, three is the suggested minimum to keep. For a comfortable home provide a soft substrate, some rocks and roots, and some plants. The water should be soft with regular changes. They are easy to care for and will eat any type of food that is provided, especially enjoying live and frozen worms. The Dwarf Loach or Chain Loach, a once very popular fish, has become highly endangered and wild caught specimens are not available. These loaches are being captive bred, but not always readily available and can be expensive. The Black-Lined Loach is very similar in both appearance and behavior, and is much more accessible. The Blackline Loach is a great substitution for the the aquarist.For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see: |
Care and feeding: Since they are omnivorous, the Black-Lined Loach is not a picky eater and will generally eat all kinds of live foods, sinking pelleted and tablet foods, flakes, and algae. They like frozen foods as well. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake or tablet food everyday. Feed mosquito larvae and brine shrimp (either live or frozen), tubifex, daphnia, and some vegetable foods such as algae wafers.
This fish prefers a larger sized aquarium (30 gallons or so). Plants are nice as are rocks and roots. Provide a soft substrate such as a fine gravel or sand. They do best in soft, slightly acidic water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week.
The Black-Lined Loach Yasuhikotakia nigrolineata, (previously Botia nigrolineata) is found in northern India, Thailand, and Laos. They are found in muddy slow moving or still waters. Other common names it is know by are Negro Loach and Blackline Loach.
Size - Weight: These fish can reach up to 5 inches (15.2 cm).
Social Behaviors: They make a good community fish as they don't demonstrate the nipping tendencies of some of their Botia cousins, and they are happiest when kept in a school of their own kind. A group of five to seven is suggested, with a minimum of three. They are also not as timid when it is light and are active and playful during the day.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom: Unlike most of the Botias which are bottom dwellers, this fish tends to swim in the middle of the aquarium
Acceptable Water Conditions: Hardness: soft, ranging from 1-15 dH
Ph: 6.5-6.9
Temp: F (18-24° C)
Breeding/Reproduction: Not much is known about the breeding habits of the Black-Lined Loach and they are not yet bred commercially.
Availability: The Black-Lined Loach is becoming more readily available to the hobbyist.
- Animal-World References: Freshwater Fish and Plants
- Dr. Rüdiger Riehl and Hans A. Baensch, Aquarium Atlas Vol. 1, Publisher Hans A. Baensch, 1991
- Martin Thoene, Yasuhikotakia nigrolineata, Loaches Online, 2009
- Yasuhikotakia nigrolineata (Kottelat & Chu, 1987), Fishbase.org
- Bratz Walker, Sharks and Loaches, T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1974
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