Mottled Loach

About

The mottled loach (Acanthocobitis botia) is a small, active nemacheilid with a broad natural range stretching from the Indus basin in Pakistan across to the Mae Khlong basin in Thailand, passing through some of South Asia's major river systems including the Ganges, Irrawaddy, and Salween. In the wild it favors clear, fast-moving streams with rocky and sandy bottoms, and that preference is worth keeping in mind when setting up its aquarium. One of its most distinctive features is an ocellus. A dark, eye-like spot ringed with pale coloring at the base of the tail. This marking is thought to misdirect predators, and it tends to be boldest in younger fish. The body is patterned with irregular saddle-shaped markings along the back and a row of blotchy, often interconnected spots along the lateral line, giving the fish a pleasingly complex camouflage look. Like most loaches, it spends the bulk of its time on or near the substrate, sifting through sand and gravel in search of food. It is a social species. Keep a group of six or more to see natural behavior and reduce shyness. Tankmates from its native regions work well, and peaceful cyprinids or other small loaches are generally good companions. Aggressive species, particularly larger Schistura, are best avoided. For someone looking to get into nemacheilid loaches, this is a reasonable starting point.