Comparing Botia histrionica, kubotai and almorhae

[ankelikuu]

Hi! I'm planning to have some kind of loaches during this winter. My tank will arrive next weekend, 240 litres/63 gals. The plan is to get a school of 15 pearl danios, Danio albolineatus (and perhaps a few Crossocheilus siamensis) first, and when the aquarium is surely mature, I'll find a school of loaches in it.

I'm thinking mostly of Botia histrionica or kubotai, perhaps almorhae, too. Now I'm wondering, which one would be the best! Their livelyhood and personality is the most important thing.

Please, tell about your opinions and experiences of them! Which one is most active on daytime? Most curious and bravest? Greatest personalities?

[Doc]

personally i'd go with B.histrionica.. Mine were more active during the day than any of the other species I've kept and my personal favourite out of the three.

[NancyD]

I loved my histrionicas too, very day active & people friendly...but I haven't kept kubotai (yet). Either seem a better choice than the slightly bigger & more aggressive yoyos.

[ankelikuu]

Do they "dance", too? Histrionicas, I mean.

[NancyD]

Mine danced when they were hungry & sometimes after a water change.

[ankelikuu]

Thank you, guys! I'm happy now. I'll tell here when my tank gets its residents!

[zenins]

I suggest the Histrionica Loach as well.
It is out in the daytime far more than the other loaches.
They are hard to find, and when they are small, may be confused with yoyo loaches, so make sure you get the right one.

Good Luck and post a photo of your tank when the loaches are comfortable

[ankelikuu]

Hello!

Now my Asian stream tank has it's first inhabitants. There are two striped guys, which should be Botia histrionicas. It seems to my, btw, that the other one's stripes are spreading out the way I'd think B. kubotai would do. My LFS ordered seven B. histrionicas for me, but got only two suggested, the rest five were B. almorhae... Now there are five histrionicas more just waiting to get through the quarantine in the shop, and I'll might get them in five days.

The other fish are 16 guys of Danio albolineatus, and I'm gonna get more of them, too, perhaps ten or fourteen. There are also three C. siamensis from a friend of mine who is setting down her tank.

The whole aquarium: http://1drv.ms/1cdDTds
B. histrionica with siamensis: http://1drv.ms/1hHR2TR
Two loaches together: http://1drv.ms/1hHRrpd
B. Histrionica: http://1drv.ms/1hHRxx5

[NancyD]

Your tank & loaches look great!

[zenins]

Beautiful

Thanks for sharing