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Botia macracanthus, Bleeker, 1852
Origin:
Indonesia; Sumatra and Borneo.
Etymology:
Synonyms: Cobitis macracanthus, Hymenophysa macracantha.
First European import: 1935??
Description: See pictures
Care:Botia macracantus prefers a sandy soil, and lots of hideouts under which the fish can hide. Tempered light and and decent filtration are also requiered. Like all botias the fish are sensitive to pollution, and do not adapt well to sudden changes in waterquality, hence frequent small waterchanges should be carried out. The fish are mostly active in the evening and at night, but also during the day. The fish are tolerant to other fish as well as to their own kind.
Temperature:25-30
degrees.
Feeding: Omnivorous, although algae should also be part of the diet.
Size: up to 30 cm, in aquariums usually not larger than 16 cm.
pH: 6.0-7.0
Breeding:Has been bred in aquariums. Baensch and Riehl report that the 18 year old botia macracantha of a lady in Germany regularly spawned. Another described spawning occurred in the UK, in 1995/6. Granville Hammond's 4 clowns, between 27 and 32 cm, started to display strange behaviour after a rise in temperature of a few degrees, and after they ate a few other fish(!) in the tank. After a few waterchanges over the next few weeks, and a varied diet, white frozen fish was supplied as food. The fish turned into a feeding frenzy. This practice was continued for a while until the loaches were extremely fat, and after a large waterchange or similar, reducing nitrate levels and raising the waterlevel, the fish swam up to the surface in pairs, making lots of clicking noises. The next morning small tellowish eggs were present throughout the tank. Parents were removed, since they started to eat the eggs. Fry were fed infusoria and ground flake, and grew up to an inch in 6 weeks.
Sexual dimorphism:Males have more elongated caudal tail.
Prices: depending on size: 4-12€.
Additional: Sensitive to ichtyoophthirius infections, and to medication.
Picture references: All pictures E. Naus
References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)
WWW: freshaquarium.about.com/library/profiles/blfw0053.htm