Emperor loach
Botia udomritthiruji
Also known as Emperor botia
FreshwaterFish
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
- Family
- Botiidae
- Origin
- Tenasserim River drainage, Myanmar
Overview
The emperor loach is a classic barred botiid that shoals along the bottom of a community tank. It is a reasonable next step after the easiest community fish.
Did you know
Few loaches carry a person's name, and the emperor loach honors the Thai fish exporter Kamphol Udomritthiruj. He helped bring several Myanmar loaches to science and the hobby in the 2000s.
Caring for the emperor loach
Keep emperor loaches in a group of five or more, in 42 gal (160 L) or larger. Give them a sand floor with rounded stones and wood. Provide plenty of caves, so each fish has a bolt-hole of its own.
Hold the water at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and moderate flow. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods.
The emperor loach is peaceful for a botia but boisterous at dinner. It suits a robust community, so leave out long-finned or timid tank mates.
Good to know
Botia udomritthiruji was described in 2007, and it is also sold as the emperor botia. Its bold dark bars over silver thicken and net together with age.
In the wild
The emperor loach is known from the Tenasserim drainage in southern Myanmar, a river system that reaches the Andaman Sea.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The emperor loach is a mostly peaceful, shoaling species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Hilgendorf's Congo tetra
Alestopetersius hilgendorfi
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Blue spotted hill trout
Barilius bakeri
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)64–79°F (18–26°C)
Gongota loach
Canthophrys gongota
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Ajamaru Lakes rainbowfish
Melanotaenia ajamaruensis
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Greater scissortail
Rasbora caudimaculata
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Slender horseface loach
Acantopsis ioa
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°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 does an emperor loach need?
An emperor loach is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does an emperor loach eat?
An emperor loach eats sinking pellets and frozen foods.
How big does an emperor loach get?
An adult emperor loach reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
Does an emperor loach need a group?
Yes. An emperor loach is a shoaling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
5.9 in (15 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Polka-dot loach
Botia kubotai
5.9 in (15 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)37 gal (140 L)73–79°F (23–26°C)Bengal loach
Botia dario
5.1 in (13 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Burmese border loach
Botia histrionica
5.1 in (13 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)Gangetic loach
Botia rostrata
4.7 in (12 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)37 gal (140 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Zebra loach
Botia striata
3.5 in (9 cm) · 37 gal (140 L)
6.3 in (16 cm)42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)