Skunk Loach 'Yasuhikotakia morleti'

The Skunk Loach (Yasuhikotakia morleti), also known as the Skunk Botia or Hora’s Loach, is a small but spirited freshwater fish native to the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Mae Klong river basins in Southeast Asia.

• Appearance: It has a pale cream to golden-brown body with a distinctive black stripe running from its nose, along the ridge of its back, to the base of its tail.
• Size: They are relatively small for loaches, typically reaching a maximum length of 10 cm (4 inches).
• Lifespan: With proper care, they can live for 10 to 12 years.

• Tank Size: A minimum of 100 - 120L is recommended due to their active nature.
• Substrate: Use soft sand, as they enjoy burrowing and have delicate sensory barbels that can be damaged by sharp gravel.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 26°C – 30°C.
  • pH: 6.0 to 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral is ideal).
  • Hardness: 5 to 12 dGH

• Social Needs: They are highly social and must be kept in groups of 5 or more. Keeping them in smaller numbers often increases aggression toward other tankmates.
• Activity: They are primarily crepuscular or nocturnal, becoming most active at dusk and during the night.

• Snail Eaters: They are famous for being excellent snail eaters and are often used to control pest snail populations in aquariums.
• Feeding: They are omnivorous and will accept sinking pellets, flakes, and frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.