Botia Helodes and Botia Berdmorei

[Icewall42]

These guys really don't seem to like each other. I introduced a Botia Heldoes (I've had a massive one before that was the sweetest loach ever) into my 72 gallon about a month ago, and he was skinny at first, but he's coming along now and seems to be very active. He hasn't bothered any of my other loaches, which include:

Botia Morleti
Botia Macracanthus
Botia Histrionica
Botia Modesta
Kuhli Loach
Sinibotia Pulchra

I just introduced two more Botia Morleti, so now I have 4 total, and a Botia Berdmorei. The Botia Helodes is chasing the dickens out of the Botia Berdmorei whenever he sees the latter. So far I don't see any fighting or nipping, just chasing.

Is this a bad thing? Is it possible they will get used to each other and settle down a bit? Or should I try to get more Botia Berdmorei to off set the aggression? The website says that these two species, along with the Botia Morleti, can be kept together, and the tank is sort of planted with two big pieces of bogwood (with caves dug out beenath them), sand substrate, and a smaller piece of bogwood that forms a little shelter. From what I've read, the tank seems big enough for now, and it isn't really a community tank.

Thoughts?

[Emma Turner]

All Botiine loaches need to be kept in groups of at least 5 of their own kind, rather than one or two of several different species. You should find that adding more of each Syncrossus species (the Tiger loaches) will help to share the aggression between the group. I have to say that I can forsee some potential problems occuring with your current mix of loaches as they mature.

Emma

[piggy4]

Both Helodes and Berdmorei are feisty as are one or two other loaches i.e Eos and Mortleti ! these fishes are best kept in well thought out setups, plenty of cover, rocks pebbles wood etc, to be honest im not sure if i would mix S.Helodes with S Berdmorei ! i know Helodes can get to a good size 8 inches or more , now i know Berdmorei is supposed to be a large fish ? but so far i have'nt seen these much larger than say about 5 inches , [has anyone here ?] now unless they get bigger i fear Helodes would be to strong ! and would constantly hound its smaller cousin ? i think both Eos and ,or Mortleti would be ideal tank mates for either Hels, or Berds, i keep Caudipunctata with my Berdmorei , with no trouble , in the same tank i also have some Garras , and some Scaphognathops [largish barbs ] as it happens these barbs rule the roost , not too heavy handed though ha ha , these Syncrossus types are really worth the extra bit of thought , i.e. tank and tank mates , if it is not feasable to go the extra mile , then there are lots of milder mannered Botias to choose from Histrionicas ,Striatas , Darios , etc all very entertaining in their own right !

[newshound]

Both Helodes and Berdmorei are feisty as are one or two other loaches i.e Eos and Mortleti ! i think both Eos and ,or Mortleti would be ideal tank mates for either Hels, or Berds!

I found my Mortleti to take it on the chin in a tank with just Eos Robusta and Modestas...let alone the khuli!

[Icewall42]

Thanks for all the info... I may consider getting more plants to create more shelter, and hopefully that will help with the issue. I'd really rather hang on to the Helodes and Berdmorei, but if they just don't settle down, I might have to choose between them. I don't like the thought at all because I love loaches and my pudget is in the toilet, so the thoguht of wasted money stinks... but the fish come first.

Anyways, all the other loaches are well established. The clowns, modestas, pulchra, striata, histrionica, skunks, and khuli are all an established community that I've had for the past 5-6 years without ANY problems whatsoever. The Helodes and the Berdmorei are really the only new loaches (and I've dealt with a Helodes before, a very big one with this same community). Neither loach is bothering the rest of the community, just each other...

Oh and I'm hoping my budget will allow me to add more Syncrossus loaches as that seems to be a decent thing to do if I want to keep the ones I got!

[Icewall42]

This is interesting... the two Syncrossus did what I hoped they would. they're getting along better and no longer chasing each other on sight. they've mellowed out quite a bit. Does this happen often? Is it just "new kid on the block" syndrome? Or something similar.