What Type Of Loach Is This?

[Lindsey88]

I work at walmart in the pet department and these guys came in a couple months ago and I finally brought them home. What type of loach are they? They are about 2.5 inches right now.

 

[Davo86]

yellow tailed blue botia
which i think is botia modesta but don't quote me on that

what tankmates do you have with them?
They get quite aggressive as they grow and they are definitely are not something you want keep with snails

 

[Lindsey88]

I have just searched myself and believe they are Botia lecontei. The tank mates are the mystery snail, corydoras, columbian tetras, and zebra danios.
http/www.loaches.com/species-index/yasuhikotakia-lecontei

 

[Davo86]

All of these and related species of loach are snail killers

 

[Lindsey88]

Thats fine. I will rehome the mystery snail. Thanks for letting me know!

 

[loachman]

I think it is most likely Yasuhikotakia lecontei as you said. They're rather rare in the trade.

It could be a Yasuhikotakia modesta, but they tend to have very dark blue bodies (and red or yellow fins). The photo doesn't show that much blue, but it could be stress or a washed out photo.

Most of the Yasuhikotakia loaches are rather aggressive, and will pick on your snail . Probably to the point of killing it (if it is not a large snail, they'll eat it outright).

From the pictures in the bag, the one of the left and on the righ look thin. You should try to fatten them up and potentially treat for internal parasites. www.loaches.com has some treatment recommendations. The lower picture looks much better though. It is not uncommon for loaches to have some internal parasites, and/or be thin from shipping and holding in fish shops.

 

[Lindsey88]

That is neat. So I had quite a find at my local walmart in just a shipping mix up. There were 4 of these beauties but we either lost one of them or it was sold. Thanks for the info! I payed just $1.96 each for these little ones. When my camera batteries charge I will take more pictures. They are such quick little guys it's hard though.

 

[loachman]

That is neat. So I had quite a find at my local walmart in just a shipping mix up. There were 4 of these beauties but we either lost one of them or it was sold. Thanks for the info! I payed just $1.96 each for these little ones. When my camera batteries charge I will take more pictures. They are such quick little guys it's hard though.

That's a very good price.