Best Botia for a 75 gallon?

[Into the ocean]

Hello Loaches.com!

I am in the planning phase for my 75g 4ft tank...I am intrigued by some of the fascinating behavior that a shoal of loaches can bring to an aquarium if given the proper conditions.

Tankmates would be a bristlenose pleco, spotted raphael, and a shoal of some form of tetra.

The tank would likely have a sand substrate (possibly fine gravel) with abundant driftwood and cave like structures to satisfy the needs of my many bottom dwelling fish in this proposed setup.

My question to the loach-aholics is which species of botia would you recommend for such a setup (and how many would you recommend).

I would also like some more info on enhancing the tank setup for the loaches...i.e., some more info on the "blue" lighting and how that works, as well as optimizing current to better simulate the loaches natural environment.

My main goals would be to study the loaches' natural behavior and allow them to fully thrive in my created environment.

I know clowns are out of the question...so what would be the ideal species?

Thanks in advance!

[Oldfish]

I can answer that in a thousand words...

[Into the ocean]

Very nice description...and that species is...

[Into the ocean]

From a review of the species descriptions here on the site, I have come up with the following possibilities:

Botia kubotai
Botia histronica
Botia striata
Botia dario

in groups of 8-10?

[Oldfish]

They are Yasuhikotaka Sidthimunki ,aka dwarf loach,aka chain loach. My choice if you want a group who are active and out to be seen.

[worldrallynut]

i have heard horror stories of fish going missing with the raphael cats. As far as choices, any of the botia you suggested should do very well in a 75 gal tank.

[Into the ocean]

i have heard horror stories of fish going missing with the raphael cats. As far as choices, any of the botia you suggested should do very well in a 75 gal tank.

Really? The raphael never shows his face, I wonder if he is secretly a silent assassin? Well, I could always put him in my 29 gallon with my con if there would be a risk to the other fish in my 75.

I'm glad to hear I have some good choices for my 75. All 4 or those species seem nice.

[Into the ocean]

They are Yasuhikotaka Sidthimunki ,aka dwarf loach,aka chain loach. My choice if you want a group who are active and out to be seen.

I will add those to my list of Botia species above. Are they difficult to come upon? i.e. expensive.

[Rubix]

i keep botia kubotai and LOVE them.. i am very interested in acquiring botia striata and sids as said above though, i just dont have the tank space.. yet..

[palaeodave]

Where abouts do you live? It helps to know whether you're using Imperial or US gallons.

I think a group of Botia striata is the way forward

[Into the ocean]

I live in Kansas here in the states...

Thanks everyone for the advice, I will check back shortly and continue to research between the different species.

[Total Package]

They are Yasuhikotaka Sidthimunki ,aka dwarf loach,aka chain loach. My choice if you want a group who are active and out to be seen.

I will add those to my list of Botia species above. Are they difficult to come upon? i.e. expensive.

They are moderately difficult to find. They run about $12 for a 1 inch fish here in Maryland/DC.

Yoyos and Kubotai are pretty easy to find. Kubotai run about $10 for a 2 inch fish, and yoyos about $5.

B. Striata aren't overly common, and run about $5.

I have never seen a histronica and only seen one dario, so I'd call them pretty rare.

[worton]

Hey,

raphael catfish (Platydoras costatus) is very beautiful and interesting fish but it grows fast and it will eat everything that can fit its mouth (in my friend's tank one mature speciment ate in one night 15 neon tetras).

Regards.

[newshound]

if I was to have only one species of loach it would be Kubs.
So up front and active and so darn good looking.
BTW- I have at least 12 species of loaches currently.
No one has mentioned Skunks yet. Nippy buggers but active too.
What ever you do get as many as possible (for your tank).
They will be far more active and you could lose one or two and if you don't no problem just get a bigger tank

[Into the ocean]

Hey,

raphael catfish (Platydoras costatus) is very beautiful and interesting fish but it grows fast and it will eat everything that can fit its mouth (in my friend's tank one mature speciment ate in one night 15 neon tetras).

Regards.

Wow...thanks for the 'head's up' on the raphael, he'll be joining my convict cichlid in my other tank just as a precaution.