All fish / Botiidae

Splendid Loach

Yasuhikotakia splendida

Also known as splendid botia, botia splendida, yasuhikotakia splendida loach, golden zebra loach, false zebra loach

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A lively botiid loach with a pale golden body crossed by dark bars and blotches, and a pointed snout with barbels. Keepers like it for its busy, social behaviour and its habit of clearing pest snails.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 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

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mekong basin in Laos and Cambodia

Breeding

There are no reliable reports of it breeding in home aquariums. Fish sold in the trade are probably wild caught or bred using hormones on farms.

Good to know

It can be boisterous and nip fins, so it is best kept away from slow or long-finned tankmates. It is easily confused with similar Yasuhikotakia and Botia species in the trade.