NEWS 110
21
Yasuhikotakia eos
This beautiful and interesting loach, which can grow to some 12 cm
long, originates from Thailand. Loaches of the genera
Botia,
Chromobotia, Sinibotia, Yasuhikotakia
have the reputation of being
aggressive, some of the time at least, and
Y. eos
is regarded as
particularly quarrelsome. But in the majority of cases this
characterization is based on incorrect maintenance.
Y.eos
is extremely
social and immediately establishes an order of rank within the group.
This involves violent beating with the body and the production of
loud cracking noises. The dominant, alpha individual can be
recognized by the intense red coloration of the fins. Serious injuries
hardly ever occur within a group of loaches, only the fins are
occasionally shredded to some extent, but they heal again of their
own accord.
If loaches are kept in too small a group or singly, they transfer their
need for social contact to other fishes. Because all species of the
genera
Botia,Chromobotia,Sinibotia,Yasuhikotakia
have a razor-sharp,
protrusible,sickle-shaped spine beneath the eye,this can lead tonasty
injuries to other fishes. So these loaches should always be kept in
larger groups of 8-12 specimens.
