Family: Cobitidae
Distribution: Botia lohachata, known by many names but perhaps best as Yoyo Loach, is a species distributed throughout the north and northeastern parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. It is found in creeks with rocky, gravel bottoms.
PH: 6.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 24°C – 30°C (74 – 86F)
Hardness: 5 – 12 dH
Description: Botia lohachata grows to a maximum of 11 cm in length and, funnily enough, has a pattern of “Y’s” and “O’s” along its flanks. This species has a sliver-gold, scaleless body. It can be difficult to sex this species, but males are usually slimmer and may display a red colouration around their barbells. The Yoyo Loach has a downward-pointing mouth and four pairs of barbels protruding from its mouth.
Diet: The Yoyo Loach is easy to feed and will eat most things you offer it. You may consider offering it a few pellets before night-time, but flake and frozen food will go down just as nicely. It loves live food equally – bloodworms, brine shrimp and snail are reportedly well received. Give the Yoyo Loach a varied diet to maintain its good health.
Breeding: This species has not been bred in captivity and, as such, not a lot of information is available on its breeding requirements. It is an egg laying species, however, and there have been reports of female Yoyo Loaches carrying eggs. It appears to be a very difficult species to breed.
Comments: You should keep Botia lohachata in a tank with a water current. This species will appreciate caves and holes – the Yoyo Loach loves to hide – along with a soft, gravel substrate to simulate its natural environment. It should be housed in at least a 20 gallon tank and given plenty of open areas in which to swim. The Yoyo Loach will require constant water changes and a subdued level of light in the tank.
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Recommended Compatible Species: Botia lohachata should be kept in a shoal of three and be housed with small, peaceful fish. You might consider housing this species many of the Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates.
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