Rosy Loach/Botia (Petruichthys sp. "Tuberoschistura arakanensis")

The Rosy Loach (Petruichthys sp. "Tuberoschistura arakanensis"), is a nano-sized member of the loach/botia family indigenous to Myanmar and Thailand. In addition to its very attractive appearance, this beautiful loach is also highly desired due to its extremely active and outgoing personality as well as its relative adaptability. This is a very rare species and it is one of the only traditionally-shaped loaches/botias that can be considered a “nano” fish that is appropriate for heavily-planted aquariums.

The Rosy Loach is an omnivorous micropredator requiring a diet of meaty foods regularly supplemented with vegetable and fruit matter. It will often accept high quality dry foods, but its diet should also include regular offerings of live/frozen meaty foods of invertebrate origin. It may also benefit from supplementary vegetable matter. Like most loaches and botias, it may eat small snails, but this is probably not such a concern with medium and larger snails in larger aquaria due to this loach's tiny size. It may be compatible with adult dwarf shrimp, but it will likely prey on dwarf shrimp fry. It should be no threat to larger shrimp.

The aquarium of the Rosy Loach should include plenty of plants, rockwork, and driftwood. Plenty of cover is necessary for this species and will ensure the most activity and least stress. The Rosy Loach is an exceptionally active species that also needs plenty of clear room in the aquarium for swimming and exploring. It exhibits a very sophisticated schooling behavior and social hierarchy where each individual species constantly strives to be the “leader of the school” by swimming to the front of the group. While this behavior may seem aggressive, it generally involves no real fighting and results in an exceptional level of activity and coloration. As long as the school includes at least 8-10 specimens, aggression or bullying within the school will be minimal or nonexistent. However, if the Rosy Loach is kept solitarily or in too small of a group, it can become withdrawn or aggressive.

The Rosy Loach will thrive in a planted aquarium with very clean, well-maintained, high-oxygen water of low or moderate water flow and is generally peaceful with other species of fish, although its boisterous nature can be stressful to other very passive fish. It is an excellent tankmate for most rasboras, tetras, danios, livebearers, and other schooling fish that inhabit the middle and upper levels of the water column. In a spacious tank, it can also be kept with other bottom-dwelling fish that are not too timid to be outcompeted at feeding time.

The Rosy Loach is a truly magnificent highlight of the aquarium under the right conditions. Its personality, appearance, and activity make it a truly exceptional species that is uniquely unrivaled.

What We Like About This Fish:

• Vibrant red or orange coloration
• Incredibly bold and active fish that almost never stops swimming and foraging
• Very active in middle and lower levels of the aquarium
• Excellent candidate for most planted aquariums

RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:

• Temperature:  68° - 78.8° F (20° - 26° C). Care should be exercised to maintain high dissolved oxygen levels at the higher end of this temperature range.
• pH:  6.5 - 8.0
• KH:  8 - 12 dKH
• Minimum tank size:  30+ gallons

CARE GUIDELINES: 

• Diet:  Omnivore. Live and frozen meaty foods, especially frozen foods such as cyclops, Daphnia, Artemia, Tubifex, and bloodworms will all be readily accepted. High quality dry foods are also likely to be accepted. Some plant matter should also be offered
• Social behavior:  MUST be kept in schools of 8-10+ specimens. This species exhibits complex schooling behavior and will often become withdrawn or aggressive when kept by solitarily or in smaller groups.
• Origin:  Myanmar, Thailand
• Average adult size:  1 - 1.2 inches (2.5 - 3 cm)
• Average purchase size:  .5 - 1 inch (1.3 - 2.5 cm)

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