Botia rostrata
| Twin-banded loach | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Superclass: | Osteichthyes |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Botiidae[2] |
| Genus: | Botia |
| Species: | B. rostrata |
| Binomial name | |
| Botia rostrata Günther, 1868 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Botia dayi Hora, 1932[2] | |
Botia rostrata, the ladder loach or twin-banded loach, is a freshwater fish belonging to the loach family Botiidae. It originates in calmer water pool areas of highland streams in the lower Ganges and Brahmaputra basins in Bangladesh and north India. Records from elsewhere are believed to be misidentification of relatives (e.g., B. histrionica).[3] It is not as common in the aquarium trade as the clown loach or yoyo loach.
In the aquarium
B. rostrata can reach a length of up to 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in).[3] It needs to be in a group of five or more to create a pecking order and will never be seen when kept singly. During fighting or feeding time a larger specimen of this fish may be seen graying out (darkening in body). This a dominance behavior and should not be worrying. It likes having plenty of hiding spots and crannies to cram into, so rocks and wood are needed.
References
- ↑ Chaudhry, S. (2010). "Botia rostrata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- 1 2 Kottelat, M. (2012): Conspectus cobitidum: an inventory of the loaches of the world (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Cobitoidei). Archived February 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Suppl. No. 26: 1-199.
- 1 2 SeriouslyFish: Botia rostrata. Retrieved 15 July 2014.