Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Freshwater Loaches > Botia Robusta

Botia Robusta

Family: Cobitidae

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Sinibotia robusta
Botia robusta Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

   The Botia Robusta is quite the elegant looker with contrasting bold black stripes and bands against a golden body. It is lively and fun to watch!

   The yellowish or golden background color and strong vertical dark bands define the Botia Robusta both as a juvenile and as an adult. The Botia Robusta has a striking appearance. The horizontal striping across the head and through the eyes is then countered by dark vertical bands along the rest of the body and through the dorsal and tail fin. The dark bands also tend to fork into two narrower strips at about the center and as they wrap under the belly. The pectoral fins are a translucent yellow.

   Though generally a good community fish with other loaches and tank mates, the Botia Robusta are quite active and can get aggressive. They have been reported to occasionally nip the fins of their tank mates when feeling agitated. They can be kept in small groups of their own species (three or more), but they are also a more independent loach and can be kept singly as well.

   Because they are naturally nocturnal, they will be active at dusk and in the evening. They also enjoy snacking on snails, so are good for snail control. Lively and fun to watch.

   This is one of the loaches that can be acclimated to a brackish type aquarium. The water can be medium to hard and they can handle a fairly broad temperature range. Like all loaches the Botia Robusta will appreciate lots of hiding and resting places in caves, rocks, and roots. They also like a planted aquarium but with open space for swimming. 

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous, the Botia Robusta 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. They will also eat snails, so are good for snail control.
   This fish prefers a larger sized aquarium (30 gallons or so) with plants and places for retreat such as rocks, caves, and roots. Plants are also appreciated. Provide a soft substrate such as a fine gravel or sand. They do best in a medium hard water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. This is one of the loaches that can also be acclimated to a brackish aquarium.

Distribution:
   Botia Robusta are found in Asia; China and Vietnam.

Size - Weight:
   These fish reach up to about 5 - 7 " ( 13 - 18 cm) though they are usually on the smaller side in the aquarium.

Social Behaviors:
   Though they are generally a peaceful community fish, they are quite active and can get aggressive. They have been known to nip the fins of their tank mates when aggravated. They can be kept with three or more of their own species but as they are a more independent loach, they can also be kept singly.

Sexual Differences:
   Unknown.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish are mostly bottom dwellers, but will occasionally swim in the middle of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: medium hard of 6 - 22° dH
   Ph: 7.0 - 7.8
   Temp: In the wild, a subtropical 65 - 75° F (18 - 24° C)
               Have been kept in the aquarium at 77 - 83° F (25 - 28° C)

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Botia Robusta have not been bred in the aquarium and they are not yet bred commercially.

Availability:
   The Botia Robusta is occasionally available.

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Some of the coolest comments:
I have one of these botia robusta in my 55 gallon tank and I must say he is pretty aggressive when he wants to be. Right now I have him in there with a 5in texas and 2 juvenile severums and he owns the aquarium. The texas and he got into a huge fight the first day over a cave, and the botia won. He regularly chases the severums right off the bottom if they go anywhere near the bottom of the aquarium. Very interesting fish, very tough, and he holds his ground when he has to. mike d. 2008-08-27
I have 3 of these fish in my 33 gallon and are my favourite fish. They are very shy mainly due to their nocturnal habits but will eventually get used to you coming near the tank. I have had great success with blue LED lights that are normally used for reef tanks. The blue lights let these fish come out at night when they are much bolder and you will still be able to see them. They can be quite inquisitive, they will be quite happy to sit and watch you whilst you watch them. Their eyes are not so fixed to their heads, they can move them so they can look right at you which is really nice. These fish like to snuggle up close with each other for comfort and have been known to tussle with each to get comfortable :D I've seen them occasionally sneer and push away another fish that comes near their spot but... I have mine with neon tetras and I trust the loaches 100% with them. My fish love live food and frozen food like Daphnia and even blood worms if they manage to get some :S but their staple diet are the plant pellets that I feed them. (I think they'd be the first to eat eggs so be careful if you breed). Not had much luck with cucumber or spinach but working with other veg. They are fantastic snailers too so don't deliberately mix them with snails. Although they don't need a shoal, from what I've seen of mine, they seem to appreciate the comfort that a couple more give them. These fish need immaculate water to feel comfortable, in less than perfect conditions mine hide away more. In fresh water, they become more playful and even swim in the center of the tank more. My biggest tip is not to turn down their lights like most loach experts say. In their native countries the light can be bright.... instead use the blue LED moon lights and allow them to continue being nocturnal. :D Colin Bragg 2008-04-28

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Author: Clarice Brough. CFS.