Emperor loach
Botia udomritthiruji
Also known as Emperor botia
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.5 in (14 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal (160 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Shoaling
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Tenasserim River drainage, Myanmar
- Family
- Botiidae
Overview
A classic botiid citizen: keep five or more, feed sinking pellets and frozen foods, and provide caves because every fish wants a bolt-hole. Peaceful for a botia but boisterous at dinner, it suits a robust community without long-finned or timid tankmates.
In the wild
The emperor loach is known from the Tenasserim drainage in southern Myanmar, a river system that reaches the Andaman Sea. Keep it over sand with rounded stones and wood, moderate flow, 23 to 28 degrees Celsius, and pH 6.0 to 7.5.
Good to know
Botia udomritthiruji was described in 2007 and honors the Thai fish exporter Kamphol Udomritthiruj. It reaches about 14 centimeters, with bold dark bars over silver that thicken and net together with age.
Did you know
Few loaches carry a person's name; this one honors the exporter who helped bring several Myanmar loaches to science and the hobby in the 2000s.
Tank mates
Emperor loach is a mostly peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Gongota loach
Canthophrys gongotaFreshwater5.1 in (13 cm)42 gal (160 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Mwanza dung hap
Enterochromis coprologusFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Slender horseface loach
Acantopsis ioaFreshwater6.3 in (16 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Bernatzik's baril
Opsarius bernatzikiFreshwater4.3 in (11 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Hilgendorf's Congo tetra
Alestopetersius hilgendorfiFreshwater3.9 in (10 cm)42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Klasio rainbowfish
Melanotaenia klasioensisFreshwater4.2 in (10.6 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Emperor loach need?
An Emperor loach needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Emperor loach need?
Emperor loach are comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big do Emperor loach get?
An adult Emperor loach reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
Do Emperor loach need a group?
Yes. Emperor loach are a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Freshwater fish · Loaches · Schooling fish · Bottom dwellers
Keeping Emperor loach?
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Related species
Polka-Dot Loach
Botia kubotaiFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Bengal loach
Botia darioFreshwater5.1 in (13 cm)37 gal (140 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)
Burmese border loach
Botia histrionicaFreshwater5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Gangetic loach
Botia rostrataFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Zebra loach
Botia striataFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)37 gal (140 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhaeFreshwater6.3 in (16 cm)42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)