No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Queen Loach
Botia dario
📍 Southeast Asia
The Queen Loach is a striking bottom-dwelling fish native to South Asia, known for its vibrant yellow and black banding pattern. These active and social loaches are best kept in groups and require plenty of hiding spaces and a well-established tank. They are moderately hardy and make excellent additions to community aquariums with appropriate tank mates.
Care Guide
Diet
Queen Loaches are omnivorous and should be fed a varied diet including sinking pellets, algae wafers, and occasional live or frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp. Feed once daily in amounts they can consume within 2-3 minutes. They will also scavenge for food on the substrate and consume algae.
Behavior
Queen Loaches are active bottom-dwellers that spend most of their time foraging and exploring the substrate. They are social fish that should be kept in groups of at least three, as solitary individuals may become stressed or aggressive. They are nocturnal and more active during evening hours, often hiding during the day.
Breeding
Breeding Queen Loaches in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely achieved in home aquariums. They require very specific water conditions and large tank volumes to trigger spawning behavior. Commercial breeding is limited, making captive-bred specimens uncommon in the aquarium trade.
Tank Mates
Peaceful schooling fish that occupy different water columns
Similar bottom-dwelling habits and peaceful temperament
Small peaceful algae eaters that share bottom habitat
Nocturnal bottom-dweller with compatible care requirements
Small peaceful fish that occupy mid-water column
May compete for food; requires careful observation
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, flashing against objects
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30 C (82-86 F), use aquarium salt or ich medication, perform frequent water changes, ensure good filtration
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Improve water quality through frequent water changes, remove any sharp decorations, use antibacterial medication if severe, ensure proper nutrition
Bacterial Infections
Open sores, lesions on body, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, behavioral changes
Perform large water changes, maintain pristine water conditions, use broad-spectrum antibacterial medication, isolate affected fish if possible
Parasitic Infections
Excessive scratching, weight loss, visible parasites, clamped fins, lethargy
Use antiparasitic medication, perform water changes, quarantine affected fish, treat entire tank if infestation is widespread
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with Queen Loach to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore - feeds on small invertebrates, algae wafers, and sinking pellets
- lifespan
- 8-10 years
- max size
- 12 cm (5 in)
- tank size
- 40 gallons minimum
- temperament
- semi-aggressive
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 5-12 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)