Oh? That's one of my Favourite Fish!
Botia lecontei
by Douglas De Ment
From Wet Pet Gazette, Norwalk Aquarium Society, March-April 2002
Aquarticles
Note: Not all of my favorite fish are Botias, and this column will contain other fishes
than Botias ... but not this month! Since I wrote about the Botia modesta last
month, I thought it would be good to follow-up with Botia lecontei.
Another of my favorite fish is the loach Botia lecontei. It is sometimes
called the "red finned loach" and sometimes "Le Conte’s loach."
It is sometimes confused with Botia modesta. In many pet shops, I have seen tanks
of lecontei labeled as modesta. The B. lecontei is more slender
than the B. modesta. Also, the cross band on the caudal peduncle (tail) often
remains as a spot in adults. If you see a modesta and a lecontei side by
side, you’ll readily see the differences. The lecontei individuals that I
have kept seem to be more aggressive than the B. modesta, often badgering others
(their own and other species) more so than B. modesta.
The natural range of the lecontei is Southeast Asia, east Thailand, and Laos.
Soft, slightly acid water (pH 6.9 to 6.5) is appropriate, although the fish will tolerate
stable water that is just outside this zone. Frequent water changes are important, 10%
weekly.
Lecontei does well with a tank bottom of fine sand. Hardy resistant vegetation
is in order, with the roots protected against the burrowing.
They readily take meaty foods, such as worms, but can be adapted to take some prepared
foods. The lecontei loaches that I have kept, would all take standard flake food, although
they love meatier fare. I will go to my other tanks for some snails, and drop a few into
his tank. The lecontei will search out these snails and eat them up, shell and
all.
Since they haven’t been bred and they can be belligerent, I’m not sure what
it is about these fish, that I find appealing. Maybe it the fact that they will hold their
own against "milder" cichlids, although I’ve seen them dart in and gobble
fry, so if you are breeding the cichlids, don’t have the lecontei in the
tank!
The species are generally more active at evening or night, and low light levels are
recommended to keep the fish at ease. Phased lighting is definitely appropriate.
There have been no reports of breeding in an aquarium. Probably few people have been
willing to give them the larger tank that multiple individuals would need. I have seen
specimens for sale that from about two inches to five inches. The fish can get to 10
inches.
Reference:
Baensch Aquarium Atlas.
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