New Botia's

[Mad Duff]

I just had a feeling you were going to ask about the aggresion.

My theory is this.....
so called aggressive loaches are only aggressive if
1) they are kept on thier own
2) they are the largest fish in the tank
3) the are kept in less than ideal tanks (IE tank is too small)

As I have several clowns and a couple of yoyos that are twice the size of my
"aggresive" loaches and the fact that there is a polypterus in with them,
the worst that I have seen from them is a 5-10second sparing.

The species that I have that have a reputation for aggression, apart from the
Caudipunctatus are B.Modesta, S.Helodes & S.Berdmorei. I did have a 5"
CAE (golden) in with this lot and he was perfectly nice.


I'm even considering trying Skunks out in this tank, although
I feel that they have a well deserved reputation for aggression.

Now youve got me thinking (and it hurts ).

I dont know whether or not to try them in the bigger tank, I just dont want to upset things in there because at the moment there is no trouble and like I said I dont want to risk them damaging the clowns, portholes or knifefish.

Do you think it would make any difference if they are introduced into the bigger tank at the same time or if they go in one at a time to see if there is going to be any indications of trouble ?

 

[The-Wolf]

Do you think it would make any difference if they are introduced into the bigger tank at the same time or if they go in one at a time to see if there is going to be any indications of trouble ?

I think it will cause more probelms dong it one at a time.
I'd introduce them together and see what happens.
I expect a day or to of territorial squabbles but nothing serious.

Whatever you do you are one lucky guy.

 

[Mad Duff]

Do you think it would make any difference if they are introduced into the bigger tank at the same time or if they go in one at a time to see if there is going to be any indications of trouble ?

I think it will cause more probelms dong it one at a time.
I'd introduce them together and see what happens.
I expect a day or to of territorial squabbles but nothing serious.

Whatever you do you are one lucky guy.

Cheers mate, I may well put them in the big tank tomorrow morning and keep an eye on them.

Wish me luck .

 

[Barracuda518]

Mad Duff,

I remember you getting some Botia Dario a while back. Have you introduced them to your main tank yet? Im just wondering if they hide a lot. What all loaches do you have? It sounds like you have quite a collection.

Good Luck with the new loaches. I had 4 B. beauforti that wouldnt stop chasing my other loaches no matter what I did, and I had to take them back and trade them.

 

[Mad Duff]

Mad Duff,

I remember you getting some Botia Dario a while back. Have you introduced them to your main tank yet? Im just wondering if they hide a lot. What all loaches do you have? It sounds like you have quite a collection.

Good Luck with the new loaches. I had 4 B. beauforti that wouldnt stop chasing my other loaches no matter what I did, and I had to take them back and trade them.

The 3 Botia Dario and 2 Botia Rostrata will be going into my 44 gallon in the next couple of weeks, they are in with my cories at the moment. The Darios tend to hide a bit more than the Rostratas they are all out at feeding time and they are very active so you see them quite alot. I have 6 Clown Loach in my 80 Gallon and the 3 Eos which will probably be going into the 80 tomorrow . The only other loaches I have at the moment are 3 weather loaches in my little boys cold water tank.

 

[Barracuda518]

I was just wondering because I got 3 last Friday and they are in a quaratine tank. I put a cave in the tank for them to hide in and they never come out of it. Just wondering if this is normal behavior. Im kinda worried about them.

Heres a picture of them just before going into the quaratine tank:

 

[Mad Duff]

I wouldn't worry to much about the hiding thing, I my 80 gallon tank I have 6 clowns and they all hide in one plastic log, one day you wont see them all day other days they are out all day.

The one thing I do is when I get any new loaches I start them in my cory tank which has no gravel in and they tend to come out more at feeding time and the fact that the cories are very active they tend to mooch around with the cories. Then when they are moved to the tank they are to stay in they do seem a bit more active and happy to be out a lot more.

The only other thing that I have noticed is that the happier the fish are the more you will see them, and looking at that photo they could do with a lot of building up, they are a bit on the skinny side. You may find when they have beefed up a bit they may be more adventurous.

 

[Barracuda518]

Yeah, I knew they were skinny when I got them. I wouldnt have bought them, but that was the only time I have seen them and the LFS said they hardly ever get them. Thats another reason why they are in the quaratine tank. They have been eating and are looking much better. Last night after I turned all the lights off, I shined a flash light in the tank to see if they were out, and they were. I guess they just need more time to adjust.