Loaches Online Forum

Please Help me with this troubling problem, because everyone I've talked to about it don't know what to say to me. I have had the same botias for a year now, and have never experienced anything out of the ordinary. A social order was in place and no fighting had ever been witnessed after my tank settled out. My water has never had any problems because of my biological river system filter, with 1200 gph turning over in my 55 gallon.
I had 5 botia's total, 3 adults and 2 juveniles that had just earned their spots, one of which was from my 1st tank making him around 2 years in my possession. Now, however, despite my healthy tank, I have confirmed 1 of my juveniles was eaten in the middle of the night by the others (this occurred a month ago), and I immediately took my water to be tested and it was perfect. Of coarse, I did an emergency cleaning of my tank assuming my little botia found something bad in my tank.
But now my last juvenile has not been seen in at least 3days, and the adults are alone. I fear the worst has again happened, but I have yet to observe any remains yet. But I plan to do an evasive cleaning in search of any clues.
What I wish to ask, is if this species have had problems with killing younger members of the social group for any reason other than sickness. (I am aware they will kill and eat sick or dying fish)
I hope one of you will have my answer, and please give me any information you can.

Hello Ash,

Never heard about kubotai killing youngers. I do have and know many people who have them and never heard about.

Nothing like that from mine either. I have 7 kubotai of varying size and age and they all get on great! Be sure they have plenty of hiding places. Best of luck!

Nothing like that here either. What kind of condition were they in? You say the water was good, but were the young kubs plump and healthy looking? I ask since the first thing that I would suspect is that they died from chronic wasting syndrome (this means that they have parasites). Many of the kubs that I have obtained had parasites and were very thin. They would not fatten up until I treated them for parasites after which they have been fine.