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Italiano08 Feb BOTIA – Chromobotia macracanthus – facts info
Name and family:
Botia, Chromobotia macracantha, Clown Loach, Botia almorhae, Botia Sidthimunki, Botia Yasuhikotakia, Striped Clown Loach. The Botia belonging to the Cobitidae, and come from South Asia as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Feature and behavior:
The genus Botia includes many species similar to each other but with different colors, the most popular is the so called Clown Loach and presents an elongated body and devoid of scales, with vertical yellow and black wide strip, fins are orange-coloured red, and can reach up to 20 cm long. Has barbs with which sifts the gravel in search of prey or food on the bottom. Generally, other species such as Botia almorhae or “streaked”, although morphologically identical, aside from the colors, grow much less coming to a maximum of 10 cm, this is something to consider very well at the time of purchase. The kno
wn species are: Botia almorhae, Botia birdi, Botia dario, Botia kubotai Botia lohachata Botia histrionica, Dayi, Loaches, Botia pulchripinnis, Botia Rostrata, Botia sidthimunki Botia, Yasuhikotakia Udomritthiruji striated Loaches. The shelters are highly appreciated by fish during the period of acclimatization. Is an excellent ally as regards the removal of invasive snails because by his mouth will succeed in breaking them and eat them, even those in the ground.
Fishes’s coexistance:
In the age of youth is a fish that loves company, so he prefers to live in a group of at least 5-6 individuals. As an adult gets a bit more territorial and every subject requires its own hiding place. For his character quite territorial and always in search of food and you’ll see “graze” almost all the time on the bottom. Probably he will modify aquarium setup too particular and delicate.
Sexual dimorphism and beeding:
The sexual dimorphism is virtually absent, will be very difficult to distinguish male from female. It is an oviparous fish and females before the deposition change diet, feeding on fish and increasing their girth in a matter of days. After external fertilization the eggs are abandoned to their fate, are not rare cases where adults eat their eggs.
Feeding and maintenance:
Botia is omnivorous and is recommended for him granules or tablets from plant and animal background, blanched vegetables, brine shrimp and mosquito larvae, also feed on small organisms found in the gravel.
Price:
5 /15 euro.