Photo: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Blue botia
Yasuhikotakia modesta
25 cm
Adult size
400 L
Minimum volume
5
Minimum group
12 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Yasuhikotakia
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- small group
In the wild
Overview
This blue-grey botia with orange or red fins is one of the most common botiids. It is sometimes artificially dyed bright blue or purple: these fish should not be bought, and they are banned in several countries for welfare and health reasons.
- Scientific name
- Yasuhikotakia modesta (Bleeker, 1864)
- Classification
- Cypriniformes › Botiidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Middle and lower Mekong (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam), Chao Phraya and Mae Klong
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
Common within its range, it prefers flowing water, where it hides by day among rocks and roots and comes out at night to look for food, often over mud. A great migrant, it travels up tributaries and streams to spawn and frequents flooded areas depending on the season.
Behaviour
Gentler than Y. eos or Y. morleti, it nevertheless goes through aggressive phases and may nip long fins: keep it with active midwater cyprinids (Devario, Rasbora, Barilius) and other Botia, in a group. Mostly carnivorous (snails, insects, worms), it also eats soft plants: sinking food and live or frozen prey.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth