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Polka Dot Loach

Burmese Border Loach, Marble Loach, Cloud Botia

Family: CobitidaeBotia kubotaiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

The Burmese Border Loach is a more recent "polka dot" beauty that's curious and friendly with its aquarium keeper!

The Polka Dot Loach Botia kubotai is a more recent arrival to the hobby. They were first collected in 2002 during an expedition to the Three Pagodas Pass area in Myanmar (Burma) in an effort to find new aquarium fish. Though commonly known as the Polka Dot Loach or Burmese Border Loach, this gorgeous fish has captured the imagination of aquarists everywhere. With its distinctive color and patterning it has earned a variety of descriptive names such as Marble Loach, Polka Dot Botia, Botia "Angelicus", and Angelicus Loach.

The Polka Dot Loach will obtain their most beautiful color and patterning as adults, which is dramatically different then when they are juveniles. Their patterning is made up of yellow spotted horizontal black stripes that are interspersed with yellow spotted vertical bars. They have dramatic color changes as they get older with no two fish having exactly the same pattern. The black bars and stripes widen and there is lots of variation in the size and number of spots.

These are medium sized loaches that have fast become popular aquarium fish. Once Burmese Border Loaches are secure in their environment they can become quite tame. They can easily learn to be hand-fed which is another wonderful trait that makes them an enjoyable addition to the aquarium. Although a good community fish with similar sized tank mates, they do have a bit of an attitude and may snack on fish under 3/4" long, as well as snails. They enjoy the company of their own species and are best kept in a group of about four, smaller groups will take longer to acclimate.

They are from fast-flowing clear streams. Good water movement along with hiding and resting places among rocks and driftwood will be appreciated. They are not as hardy as many fish and need good water conditions.

For Information on keeping freshwater fish, see:
Freshwater Aquarium Guide: Aquarium Setup and Care

Care and feeding: Since they are omnivorous, the Polka Dot Loach or Burmese Border Loach 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 brine shrimp (either live or frozen) as a treat. They also like mosquito larvae, tubifex, daphnia, and vegetable foods such as algae wafers. They will also eat snails, so are good for snail control.

This fish will do well in a larger aquarium (ideally 30 gallons or so) with plants and places for retreat such as rocks, caves, and roots. Also use subdued lighting. They do best in soft to medium, slightly acidic water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. Because they are burrowers, the substrate needs to be a fine gravel or sand that does not have sharp edges. Be sure to provide hardy plants with the roots protected and have decorations firmly placed on the glass bottom so they don't fall over. Plastic tubes also make safe and excellent hiding places.

Distribution: The Polka Dot Loach Botia kubotai is is found in Asia in the Three Pagodas Pass area in Myanmar (Burma). They are found in fast running rivers or streams in their natural habitat.

Size - Weight: These fish get up to about 4" - 5" (10-12cm)

Social Behaviors: A good community fish, they will tolerate other tank mates of a similar size as well as enjoy other members of their own species. It is recommended that they be kept in groups of at least 4, with larger groups acclimating easier than smaller groups. They may snack on fish under 3/4" as well as snails. Good for snail control! Lively and fun to watch.

Sexual Differences: Unknown.

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

Acceptable Water Conditions: Hardness: soft to medium, 2 - 9 dH
Ph: 6.8-7.3
Temp: 75-82° F (24-28° C)

Breeding/Reproduction: There are no reports of the Polka Dot Loach or Burmese Border Loach having been bred by hobbyists. They are not yet bred commercially.

Availability: The Polka Dot Loach or Burmese Border Loach is becoming popular and more readily available.

References

• 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, Botia kubotai, Loaches Online, 2009
• Botia kubotai Kottelat, 2004, Fishbase.org
• Bratz Walker, Sharks and Loaches, T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1974

Author: Clarice Brough CFS

Lastest Comments on Polka Dot Loach View all 5 comments on Polka Dot Loach Add Your Comment

dennis donato - 2009-07-22 Hi, I just bought my first 10 gallon aquarium tank and I have 1 kissing gourami, 1 blue gourami (who by the way is very terratorial), 1 tri-color shark, and 1 algea eater. What other fresh water fish could I get for my tank. P.S. My fishs are about 2 1/2 to 3 inch. long. Lori Henson - 2012-04-21 Hi Dennis. I have always heard to stock your aquarium 1 inch of fish to 1 gallon. When counting fish inches you should consider their adult length. You are probably at your max. Reply

Tasha - 2011-12-12 Hi, I have recently reserved 2 of these to start off, but on discovery that these snack on fish of 3-4 inches I'm wondering about the compatability! Would they be suitable for my 60l tank? I have 2 Odessa Barbs, 2 Rosy Barbs, 2 small Angels, 2 Zebra Danios, 1 Rummy Nose Tetra (will be getting 3more), and 3 Black Neon Tetras-these i fear for. Perhaps I'd be better off with Corys or is there a loach you could recommend that would suit my variety? Cheers Bryan - 2012-03-06 Hi To answer your question: They don't eat fish unless they are under 3/4th of an inch, not 3 to 4 inches! Plus, if they are well fed they won't even bother the tiniest of fish. They really need a large group of 4 or more, and therefore need a tank of at least 30 gallons. I would recommend the dwarf chain loach, kuhli loaches, dojo loaches and perhaps a solitary skunk loach for a tank of your size. Jeremy Roche - 2012-03-06 Should be fine. If you plan on breeding your fish the loach will eat the fry. Reply

JT - 2008-04-13 I have 7 of these in a heavily planted 50 breeder with 3 weather loaches, a Nemacheilus masyae, a bristlenosed pleco, and 8 red eye tetras as dithers. I originally has a single one that I purchased with a 20 gallon tank, and gave him 4 companions when I moved him to the 50 with 5 yoyos. This made the BBLs quite shy, and even after removing the yoyos to a 75, I rarely saw the BBLs until I purchased 2 more to add to the shoal. Now, though they are still a bit skittish, they are much more often out and about in the front of the tank. An interesting behavior I noticed when I was taking the tank down to move it - the BBLs would swim to wherever the pleco was hand hide under his pectoral fins. Regardless of their year of shyness, these are some of the most beautiful fish I own. Reply

cara - 2007-06-12 Hi! Beautiful species, i have 3 burmese borders, 2 yo-yo, and 3 dojos all juvies (only about 1 1/2") and they are new to my community tank but to witness their dance is so cute. The biggest one is named peek-a-boo because he loves to play peek-a-boo with me. he comes right up to me in tank and when i move forward he moves back when i move back he comes foreward...very entertaining. My dojos feed by hand and im trying to introduce this to borders but no success, probably still too young. Reply

kathy - 2007-01-15 I was amazed when I saw these guys in person! The color was so much brighter than the picture here...I brought two of them home, and added to the tank with 2 clown loaches, 3 koi angels, 2 white tetras and a black ghost fish, and lastly a golden dojo! They fit in at once, and began playing by nightfall. A joy to watch, they circle each other, and are very active...still am amazed by the beautiful black/brown and bright gold colors they have. Reply

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