botia histrionica?

[Tifftastic]

I've read a little bit about these guys and have just recently seen them for sale.
Does anyone have any experience with them? Are they really less nippy as adults as the yoyo or angelicus? Is there anything important to know about them?

[fishorama]

I just got 5 baby histrionicas ~1.25 inch & hope to get a couple more. They have a reputation of being mellow for botias, most are a bit exuberant at feeding. I have striatas too that are similar in temperment. Both would make great loach alternative to clowns large size IMO.

I had not heard more than 1 or 2 reports of bad behavior by kubotai i.e. not good with guppies though yoyos I'd say are semi-aggressive.

I assume you've checked out loaches.com, both the species profile & the forums.

What would you keep them with? I haven't firmed up my plans yet, probably a 55g with rasboras.

[Lupin]

Yoyos tend to be more feisty than anything else that are suitable for community setups. Histrionicas are suitable in community setups. You'd want them with rasboras, danios and barbs and certainly not with slow-moving specimens that they might seize the opportunity to harass them which almost all botiine loaches are capable for.

[Tifftastic]

I wasnt sure yet what I wanted to put them with, but was thinking rasboras (possibly scissortails). They were just something I was considering. I did read on Loaches.com I just wanted to know if anyone had any personal experience. The ones I saw were still under an inch and so cute that I fell in love with them. I'm still trying to decide though.

[Lupin]

Get them while you have the chance, Tiff. Don't turn down a loachy offer.;) They're unique.:naughty:

[Tifftastic]

Get them while you have the chance, Tiff. Don't turn down a loachy offer.;) They're unique.:naughty:

Ah your makin it hard for me not too . . . hmmm maybe I will make a little trip tomorrow . . .

[fishorama]

Go for em Tiff! Watch out for very skinny ones, the second shipment here is not as good looking & I'm waiting a couple weeks to add more.

I think they'll be slower growers, mine burn up lots of calories doing the loachy dance a lot.

[Jeremy Smith]

With most of the rarer loaches you want to get them when available. This time next month you may not be able to find them.

[Tifftastic]

Ah man loaches are not good as a broke college students favorite fish, too pricey.
But it looks like you all talked me into it. Gonna go and pick some up today then.

Oh ya I have been watching them closely and there are three of them that eat bloodworms as if it was candy, so it shouldnt be hard to get them to eat, especially with black worms. Big fat bellies on those guys.

[fishorama]

Great! Nothing cuter than a fat loach except a bunch of fat ones! Sounds like they'll be well spoiled. Now I may have to go see how the ones here are doing.

Hey, Jeremy, nice to see you here. A lot of loaches are only available seasonally but I'd rather wait than risk heartbreak. It lessens the point of quarantine to add new fish but I strongly suspect these are from the same suppliers' batch.

[Tifftastic]

Well I went and they only had the one left. They have gotten them the last two shipments in a row, so hopefully they will get some more next week, but the people who bought the others were not interested in adding another to the group. So he was gonna be alone anyway. Gotta find him some buddies. I'll get pics as soon as he settles into the QT tank.

[fishorama]

I brought home 2 more babies yesterday! so cute but I can't tell them apart anymore. Busy busy tank!

[tonergirl]

Get them while you have the chance, Tiff. Don't turn down a loachy offer.;) They're unique.:naughty:


:iagree: with Lupin...grab em up while you can, it might be weeks or months before they have them in again. I know in my area there's only 2 LFS's, a Petcetera and a Petsmart and neither one of them have a very good selection...not to mention the tanks aren't that well looked after and the fish don't look all that healthy...poor things...Hopefully your LFS are more caring and professional.