Loaches Online Forum

The question is: what kind of growth pattern should we expect from a healthy 1" juv Botia in reasonable conditions (sufficient food, sufficiently large tank)?

For the two species I _think_ know:

Kubs: pretty much uniform and slow growth with some specimen reaching 2" within a year. Further growth is limited by 0.5"/year and likely less. Some girth growth at 2".

Yoyo's: burst growth until the size of 3"-3.5" is reached, often within only 4-5 months, then very slow growth continues, in most cases limited by 0.5"/year. (Based on ckk's post, the burst in some cases may end at 5"). Girth growth at 3".

(the above is my impression and corrections are welcome).

What happens with the other species? (Striata, Dario, Histrionica, Rostrata)? Did anyone watch them grow?

My experience is exactly the same as yours. Striata are slow too. Lee's B. histrionica have had fairly varied growth. One of them has gotten to about 3 - 3.5" pretty quickly but the rest have been slower. B. kubotai seems to be the slowest of the lot. That's all the Botia's we have in the house!

(Don't drink 'white' beer. It's far too sweet.)

Thanks, Dave,

Striata was the one I was particularly interested in: I got four small ones yesterday and wonder what to expect.

ah... i see dave has beaten me to it.

the kubitai was a concern for a while as he didnt sseemt o be groing at all. he has filled out in girth but seems to have almost stopped growing lengthwise.

the histies on the otheer hand had an inital spurt of growth and are settling down at around 3-3.5 inches.

avoid the white beer, try the raspberry beer instead


oh and dave.... what about the botia striata?

I mentioned the B. striata. My experience is that they grow pretty slowly. I'm curious to see if they pick up the pace once they're in a bigger tank. Does anyone actually own a 4 inch zebra loach?

And don't try the raspberry beer, it's not very nice.

palaeodave wrote:I mentioned the B. striata. My experience is that they grow pretty slowly. I'm curious to see if they pick up the pace once they're in a bigger tank. Does anyone actually own a 4 inch zebra loach?

And don't try the raspberry beer, it's not very nice.

oh yeah, its early, im in work. im in charge! my eyes arent working.

that raspberry beer was ok - could do with being ice cold i think. still - we have other beer there for tongiht. you can pop out and get more whilst doing nothing today, cant you?