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Skunk Loach

Hora's Loach

Family: CobitidaeYasuhikotakia morletiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtsey Ken Childs

   The handsome little Skunk Loach is one of the smaller of the Botias, often not reaching more than a couple of inches!

   This light brown to tan little fish has a distinctive 'skunk-like' stripe running down the length of its back, starting at the tip of its mouth and ending at a broad black band encircling the base of its tail. The yellowish tail is forked with rows of brown dots, and there are four (though often very obscure) vertical stripes spaced evenly along the sides of its body. Unlike other Botia species, they color remains constant throughout their life.

   The Skunk Loach is a lively fish, and though it spends the day hiding it will get quite active at dusk. They are generally quite peaceful but can get aggressive to members of their own species if there are not enough hiding places. It is best to have just one of this species, though they can be kept well with other tank mates. Especially suitable are barbs and armored catfish. The Skunk Loach is a very long lived, durable, and undemanding little fish.

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

Geographic Distribution Yasuhikotakia morleti Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cobitidae

Care and feeding:    Since they are omnivorous, the Skunk Loach or Hora's Loach will generally eat all kinds of live foods. They like tablets and frozen foods as well, but flake foods are not suggested. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen), mosquito larvae, tubifex, daphnia, and some vegetable foods such as algae wafers.
   This fish prefers a fairly large aquarium (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, 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 Skunk Loach or Hora's Loach are found in northern India, Thailand.

Size - Weight:    These fish can get up to 4 inches (10 cm), though they are usually smaller in the aquarium.

Social Behaviors:    A good community fish, but they can get aggressive to members of their own species if there are not enough hiding places. It is best to have just one of this species in a community aquarium. Especially suitable tank mates are barbs and armored catfish. Though they hide during the day, they are lively and active in the evening.

Sexual Differences:    Unknown.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:    These fish are mostly bottom dwellers.

Acceptable Water Conditions:    Hardness: to 5° dH
   Ph: 6.0-6.5
   Temp: 79-86° F (26-30° C)

Breeding/Reproduction:    Not much is known about the breeding habits of the Skunk Loach or Hora's Loach and they are not yet bred commercially.

Availability:    The Skunk Loach or Hora's Loach is readily available.

Author: Clarice Brough. CFS.

Lastest Comments on Skunk Loach View all 2 comments on Skunk Loach Add Your Comment

Eugene - 2007-10-24 I love these little "guys" They dart all over the place (when they are not hidden somewhere.) They do pick on the other species a little bit, but not so much that it is a problem at all. MOST important thing I LOVE about these guys is that they eat snails! I have two aquariums with a snail infestation. The one with the skunk fish is keeping the problem at a managable state. They "suck" out the snail meat and leave just the shell. When I vacuum up the waste I always find a bunch of empty shells in the waste water. I am planning to add 3 or 4 of these guys to my other tank with the snail problem! Reply

michael - 2007-01-01 Hearty, amazing little loaches. Mine have been very active, actually to the brink of honest curiosity. I have to admit, they are aggressive fish. I've had trouble keeping Dojo Loaches with them, as well as any other lazy, dopey fish of that nature. It's quite amazing to see HOW voracious they can be, almost like chihuahuas chasing rottwielers. I've seen mine (at only 1 inch!!) chase and beat a cichlid for fifteen straight minutes, until the cichlid was removed from the tank. I've also seen mine tirelessly attempt to devour a crayfish easily THREE times its size, gracefully dodging the claws, and going for the belly. You'll hear plenty of clicks, and have plenty of fun watching these little titans hulk around your tank. As said, avoid Dojos and other lazily curious fish, as they will doubtlessly be picked on. I've seen, in my own experience, that these fish are LESS aggressive when kept solitary (that is, only ONE Skunk). My trio was split up VERY quickly, as they all waged war with my tank. When kept alone, they tend to be very curious, very entertaining fish. Reply

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