All fish / Botiidae

Birdi Loach

Botia birdi

Also known as birdi loach, bird's loach, chain loach, pakistani loach, botia birdi, ボティア・ビルディ, 伯迪沙鳅

A sturdy loach with a pale yellowish body crossed by an irregular net of dark bands and blotches, rather like a less ordered Pakistani loach. It is kept for its active, sociable behaviour and is useful for controlling pest snails in larger community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

18 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, snails and vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Indus basin in Pakistan and northern India (Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir)

Breeding

There are no reliable reports of captive spawning in home aquariums. Fish in the trade are wild caught or farmed using hormones.

Good to know

Like other Botia it can squabble within its own group and may nip slow, long-finned tankmates, so keep a proper group in a well-sized tank with plenty of hiding places. It is often confused with Botia almorhae and Botia lohachata, and it prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water with some current.