Blue botia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue botia |
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The blue botia (scientific name: Yasuhikotakia modesta) is a cool tropical freshwater fish. It belongs to the Botiidae family, which includes many types of loaches. You can find this fish naturally in big rivers across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Many people also keep blue botias as pets because they are popular in the aquarium trade worldwide.
This fish has a few other nicknames too! Some call it the red-finned loach, redtail botia, or even colored botia.
Where Blue Botias Live
Blue botias live in many rivers in Southeast Asia. They are common in eastern and central Indochina. You can find them in the famous Mekong River basin, which includes Tonlé Sap. They also live in rivers like the Chao Phraya, Bang Pakong, and Mae Klong in Thailand.
These fish prefer water with a muddy bottom. The water is usually neutral, with a pH of about 7.0. It's also quite warm, usually between 26 to 30 degrees Celsius (79 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit).
What Blue Botias Look Like
The blue botia has a long, strong body. Its back is arched, much like other loaches such as the clown loach. In the wild, these fish can grow up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. However, if you keep them in an aquarium, they usually don't get bigger than 18 centimeters (7 inches).
Their bodies are a pretty bluish-gray color. Their fins are bright red or orange. Sometimes, you might even see one with yellow fins! Younger blue botias can sometimes have a greenish tint to their bodies. If a blue botia has bright colors, it's a good sign that it's healthy and happy.
Blue Botia Behavior
When blue botias are young, they love to swim together in groups. They are very active fish! As they get older, they tend to spend more time hiding. You might find them in caves or under rocks by themselves.
Like many loaches, blue botias are nocturnal. This means they are most active at night. They like to dig through gravel and the bottom of the river to find food. Blue botias eat a variety of things, so they are called omnivores. But they especially love to eat meat! Their favorite foods include krill, bloodworms, Daphnia, earthworms, and other live insects.
Did you know they can make sounds? Just like clown loaches, blue botias sometimes make a loud clicking noise! When blue botias live in groups, they often create a pecking order. This means they have a leader, called an alpha, and other members in a specific order.
