The Queen Loach (Botia dario) is a colourful, majestic species that is a fairly rare, but popular species for the larger aquarium.
The Queen Loach is an omnivorous species requiring a diet of meaty foods regularly supplemented with vegetable and fruit matter. It will often accept high quality dry foods, but its diet should also include regular offerings of live/frozen meaty foods of invertebrate origin. It also eats a fair amount of vegetable or fruit matter, so these items should be offered in sparing amounts on a regular basis.
The aquarium of the Queen Loach should include plenty of plants, rockwork, and driftwood for it to explore. Plenty of cover is necessary for this species and will ensure the most activity and least stress. The Queen Loach is an active species that also needs plenty of clear room in the aquarium for swimming and exploring. It exhibits a very sophisticated schooling behaviour.
The Queen Loach will thrive in an aquarium with very clean, well-maintained, high-oxygen water of moderate or high water flow and is generally peaceful with other species of fish, although its boisterous nature can be stressful to other very passive fish. The Queen Loach should not be kept with timid, slow-moving, or long-finned species, but it can be an excellent tank mate to other fast-moving, more durable species.
What We Like About This Fish:
- Exceptional coloration, especially as an adult
- Incredibly bold and active fish that almost never stops swimming and foraging
- Adaptable to a wide range of water parameters
- Very active in middle and lower levels of the aquarium
- Excellent candidate for the larger aquarium
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
- Temperature: 70° - 79° F (21° - 26° C). Care should be exercised to maintain high dissolved oxygen levels at the higher end of this temperature range.
- pH: 6.5 – 7.5
- KH: 5 - 15 dKH
- Minimum tank size: 125+ gallons for a group of full-grown adults
CARE GUIDELINES:
- Diet: Omnivore. Live and frozen meaty foods, especially frozen foods such as cyclops, Daphnia, Artemia, Tubifex, and bloodworms will all be readily accepted. High quality dry foods are also likely to be accepted. Some plant and fruit matter, such as cucumber, zucchini, blanched spinach, and melon should also be offered.
- Social behaviour: Must be kept in schools of 6-8+ specimens. This species exhibits complex schooling behaviour and will often become withdrawn or aggressive when kept by solitary or in smaller groups.