Yasuhikotakia modesta
The blue botia, Yasuhikotakia modesta, is a tropical freshwater fish of the Cobitidae family (and Botiidae subfamily) of loaches. In the wild, it comes from large rivers in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The blue botia is a widely available fish in the aquarium trade and can be purchased globally.
Other Latin names for this fish are Botia modesta and Botia rubripinnis. Other common names for this fish are red-finned loach, redtail botia, and colored botia.
Other Latin names for this fish are Botia modesta and Botia rubripinnis. Other common names for this fish are red-finned loach, redtail botia, and colored botia.
 |
| Yasuhikotakia modesta |
image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Lerdsuwa
 |
| Yasuhikotakia modesta |
image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51614465@N08/
Description and behavior
The blue botia has a long, compact body and arched back similar to many other members of the Botiidae family including clown and yoyo loaches. Wild specimens have been found up to 10 inches, (25 cm) but those in captivity rarely grow larger than 6-7 inches. (~18 cm)
The body is bluish-gray and the fins are red, orange, and in rare instances yellow. Immature specimens sometimes have a greenish tint to their bodies. Good health is indicated by bright coloration.
Juvenile blue botias are active schooling fish. As they grow older, they spend more time hiding in caves or under rocks in solitude. Like many loaches, blue botias are a nocturnal species that comes out at night to dig through gravel and substrate for food. They are omnivorous, but prefer a meat-intensive diet of krill, bloodworms, Daphnia, earthworms and live insects. Like clown loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus), they sometimes make a loud clicking noise.
Groups of blue botias often create hierarchies with an alpha and omega member.
The body is bluish-gray and the fins are red, orange, and in rare instances yellow. Immature specimens sometimes have a greenish tint to their bodies. Good health is indicated by bright coloration.
Juvenile blue botias are active schooling fish. As they grow older, they spend more time hiding in caves or under rocks in solitude. Like many loaches, blue botias are a nocturnal species that comes out at night to dig through gravel and substrate for food. They are omnivorous, but prefer a meat-intensive diet of krill, bloodworms, Daphnia, earthworms and live insects. Like clown loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus), they sometimes make a loud clicking noise.
Groups of blue botias often create hierarchies with an alpha and omega member.
Distribution and habitat
Blue botias are widespread throughout Indochina, appearing in the Mekong River basin and rivers connected to it such as the Chao Phraya River basin and Bangpakong river of Thailand and the Tonlé Sap lake of Cambodia. The water usually has a muddy substrate, a neutral pH of 7.0, and the temperature averages 78.8° to 86° Fahrenheit, or 26° to 30° Celsius.