Freak Skunk Botia???

[Khuli Crazy]

I recently bought a Skunk Botia (Skunk Loach)

In my limited experience loaches are bottom-feeders that hang out at the bottom of the tank but this guy went wherever he liked and harrassed my other fish (live-bearers and tetras) terribly!!! Is this normal for a Skunk?

My Khuli loaches are fantastic! They do their own thing and don't bother anybody but this tiny guy is a TERRORIST!!

Help!

 

[Lotus]

Yes, skunks have a reputation as fin-nippers. He may do it less if he has a couple of buddies, but I can't guarantee it. We have ours with angels, rams, and other loaches, and they are well behaved.

 

[Khuli Crazy]

Thanks Lotus!

I already gave him away to a friend of mine, why didn't someone at the petshop warn us when we bought him?

I would like another bottom feeder, I have a pepper cory and 2 Khuli Loaches already but there is enough room for one more. What do you suggest?

I have Black Widow Tetras, Swords, Platys, Mollys, red-eye Tetras and a glass ghost catfish (I had 3 but their fins got nipped) I was treating for finrot, could it have been the Loach instead?

 

[Fruitbat]

Kuhli Crazy...

Lotus is right....the Skunk Botia (Botia morleti) is one of the more aggressive of the loaches and your experiences and observations are not out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, most people (pet shop owners and employees included) tend to think of all loaches as harmless which is probably why you weren't warned in advance.

I have a number of different species of loaches and have kept them for many years. The ones I've found to be most aggressive are the Orange-finned Loach (Botia modesta), the Skunk Loach (Botia morleti) and the loaches of the 'Tiger Loach' group (like Botia hymenophysa). Some of the 'Border Loaches' (like Schistura vinciguerre) are also pretty fiesty.

If you want another loach as a bottom feeder then you might consider the Yo-Yo Loach (Botia almorhae). I've found them to be relatively docile. Otherwise, I'm sure your Pepper Cory would appreciate some more of its own kind. In general, Corydoras cats like being in small groups.

As for the fin nipping on your Glass Cats, it is very possible that it was your Skunk Loach's doing, though I wouldn't put it past the Red-eyed Tetras either.

-Joe

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I would add another cory or 2, as they like being in groups.

How big is your tank?

 

[dethjam316]

well, i think the reputation is junk, probably started by people who only kept 1 of them. i have had skunk loaches (as well as several other botia loaches) for years, and i've found them to be no more aggressive than any other loach species. for any loach species, the key is keeping them in a nice-sized school. right now, i have 6 skunk loaches, they're a lot of fun, and they keep their chasing to their own kind. if i had space, i'd buy 10 more.

i'd recommend them to anyone for any tank larger than 20g...just don't keep less than 5!

 

[Fruitbat]

Well....as far as their reputation being 'junk', I'd hardly agree with that. My statement was from personal experience and long-term observations. I always keep my loaches in small groups so I've had ample opportunity to closely observe all of the types that I've kept as they interact with each other and with other fish. Your experiences, of course, may differ but that hardly qualifies mine as 'junk'.

Right now I have Botia almorhae, Botia kubotai, Botia striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp. aff. nicholsi, Schistura vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, and Vailantella maasi so I do have a few to make my observations from and I've always found Botia morleti to be on the aggressive side.

-Joe

 

[Khuli Crazy]

Size of my tank

My tank is a 2 footer. I have a 3 foot tank that is currently occupied by a red Tiger Oscar (He's a real beauty!) I want to buy him a 4 foot tank soon and then I will have the 3 footer open for other fish, thinking about Guoramis and clown loaches, that sort of thing.

The Red-eyed Tetras are pretty mean too! As well as my Black Widow Tetras! Only the big ones though.

I would like to get another cory. Maybe another pepper or a Bronze, I could get others but they are HELLISHLY expensive here!

I am planning to get a mini tank with a few guppys and 2/3 Khuli loaches. What do you think?

 

[Lubbinloaches]

I actually have to agree with fruitbat here. I'm not saying skunk loaches are super aggressive...they just tend to be more so than other loaches. Orange fin I find to have a similar disposition, and I find tiger loaches to be very aggressive for a loach. At least that's my experience. I had three tiger loaches at one time and I had to give them away...much too agressive.

I'd go for a zipper or yo-yo loach to fill up your tank myself. I don't want to create any enemies, but I find corys to be a bit dull. I have 3 bronze corys and they don't do much.

 

[Lotus]

I would say a 3-foot tank is too small for clowns in the long term, they will need a 4 or 5-foot tank eventually.

One thing you need to keep in mind is whether your fish need to be in a group. It's always a good idea to research before you buy. Cories aren't comfortable alone, a group of 3 or more is the best way to see their personalities. Our three cories were OK, but got a lot more active when we increased the group to seven. If they're too expensive, maybe trade your one for a group of loaches.

Most of the botia species do better in groups of three or more. Skunks, clowns, zebras, yoyos, orange-finned etc. won't be happy on their own, and are likely to hide most of the time. Another thing you must provide is plenty of caves for your loaches. I would recommend at least two or three caves per tank for them. It helps them feel secure, and gives them a place to hang out.

 

[Salty Fishes]

I know that this is a little off topic, but I have a question about loaches.

Currently I have 4 yoyo loaches. I was thinking of getting a botia kubotai. They have these fish at my lfs and they're gorgeous, but they're $15 a piece and I'm broke. I was thinking of getting just one, as I heard that they'd school with my yoyos. Is this true? Do different types of loaches school together? If I got one of the botia kubotai, I wouldn't want it to be lonely.

 

[Fruitbat]

I've got Botia kubotai in an aquarium with Botia almorhae (Yo-Yo loaches) and they basically have nothing to do with each other. Interesting how they seem to recognize their own kind.

-Joe

 

[Lotus]

We had yoyos and kubotais in the same tank for a while (3 yoyos, 4 kubotais) and they really didn't like eachother. There was a lot of chasing going on, there wasn't any damage, but it was clear they didn't like to be together.

It's odd, some loaches will school with eachother, and some won't. I have had clowns and yoyos together, and they would sometimes form a group for outings around the tank.

 

[Khuli Crazy]

I have loads of hidey-holes in my tank for my Khuli Loaches (Mohammed and Zaheedah, no disrespect intended to any one, these are the names of my two best friends, not racial discrimmination!) already. I heard that Khulis are really shy and tend to stay under rocks etc. but my guys are really active and almost firendly! I see them alot! I want to get a few more though

Thank you for the advice about the corys, I will definitely get a few more to keep O'Malley (Pepper Cory) company. I like pepper corys the best!

 

[BrownBullhead]

I have 8 Red-Tail Botia (Botia Modesta) and I've watched them literally bite "pieces" off of each other, but I've never seen them more than whisker any other fish I've ever co-habitated them with, and that includes some TINY fish which were also bottom dwellers. It just goes to show you that different specimens of the same species can be varied in temperment [sp?]. I've even seen these guys dried up and crusty behind my aquarium cabinet (I used to have 10!) but again, they've never attacked anyone other than their peers in my experiences.

And yes, we should refrain from labelling each other's observations as "junk." Doing so is inflammatory and likely to turn a "debate" into a "fight".

 

[BrownBullhead]

Originally posted by Khuli Crazy
I have loads of hidey-holes in my tank for my Khuli Loaches (Mohammed and Zaheedah, no disrespect intended to any one, these are the names of my two best friends, not racial discrimmination!)

Khuli Crazy: Don't worry, my 2 Typhlonectes Natans are named "Dieter" and "Guenter" but I don't have any disrespect toward German culture; in fact, it's my way of showing how much I love their culture and the names they have! If you knew how much I *LOVE* my T. Natans, then you would know the significance it holds for me.

 

[Khuli Crazy]

I am so happy! I managed to find two Pakistani (Yo-yo) loaches at a local petshop!!! You NEVER find them here where I live!

They are doing very well in my tank. Their names are Mojo and Jojo. (I already have an Ochiba Shigure Koi called Yoyo)

Pardon my ignorance but what are T.Natans? What is their common name?

 

[BrownBullhead]

Khuli Crazy: They are an aquatic AMPHIBIAN commonly known as "Rubber Worm" or "Rubber Eel". I've been posting alot about my quest to find more in other threads. Please see the "Freshwater General" or "Buy & Sell" section to see my threads. Cheers!