Dario Botia Loach

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Moderate   • Temperament: Semi-aggressive   • Maximum Size: 5"
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons   • Water Conditions: 74-86° F, KH 2-12, pH 6.5-7.5
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: India, Bangladesh   • Family: Cobitidae
• Species: Loaches   • Aquarium Type: Community

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Dario Botia Loach (Botia dario) originate from the mountain streams that criss-cross Bangladesh and portions of northern India. Their native habitat experiences an abundance of rain and water from melting glacial mountain peaks, thus they are accustomed to an immense amount of fresh clean water moving through the streams in which they live.

Hobbyists should strive to maintain very high water quality in aquariums housing Dario Botia Loaches in order to avoid problems like poor coloration and disease that are associated with poor water quality. In addition to high water quality, Dario Botia Loaches need high levels of dissolved oxygen and moderate internal water flow (movement) within the aquarium. As is the case with most loach species, the Dario Botia Loach is a very social species that will greatly benefit from the company of others of its own kind. Their interactions with one another are especially entertaining while they jockey for position while feeding on submerged fresh vegetables or algae wafers.

When kept in social groups Dario Botia Loaches will quickly establish a social hierarchy with a dominant fish leading the group. It is highly recommended that this species is housed in social groups since they have evolved to live in this manner. Hobbyists with freshwater community or planted aquariums will find that the Dario Botia Loach makes an exciting bottom dweller that brings plenty of movement and activity to the lower areas of the aquarium.

Being a native stream dweller the Dario Botia Loach prefers aquariums with water currents and clean water conditions with low nitrates. They will prefer an aquarium with a smooth gravel substrate, plants, driftwood or submerged root and some smooth rocky caves. They are accustomed to brisk water conditions, thus they are very active swimmers that will move all about the aquarium looking for food to scavenge and caves and crevices to explore. Hobbyists should consider adding additional powerheads for increased water movement and utilizing either a canister filter or wet/dry filter to provide adequate water quality.

Dario Botia Loaches are mostly peaceful, but they are active swimmers so some smaller timid species may find them intimidating. Most all peaceful to semi-aggressive community fish species will get along well with the Dario Botia Loach. They should not be kept with delicate long finned species or very small timid species.

The Dario Botia Loach will readily consume a wide variety of both meaty and vegetable foodstuffs. Ideally they should be fed many small meals throughout the day, with access to plant matter or algae wafers to supplement their diet of meaty flakes, pellets, frozen or live foods. They are particularly fond of bloodworms and will eagerly consume freeze-dried, frozen or live bloodworms. Blanched vegetables like zucchini and cucumber make an excellent supplement to their staple diet.

They will take food directly from the water column; as well as, scavenging the aquarium substrate for food and plant matter. Overall the Dario Botia Loach is a non-fussy eater that will consume all standard aquarium foods. It should be noted that like many Loach species the Dario Botia Loach will prey on small snails, making them an excellent natural solution for nuisance snail infestations.