HomeFreshwater aquarium fishLoachesBengal loach Bengal loach (Botia dario) Scientific name: Botia dario Hamilton, 1822 Photo: https://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-dario The Bengal loach (Botia dario) is a freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae that grows to about 15 cm (5.9 in). It is aggressive and needs a tank of at least 210 L (55 US gal), water at 23–28°C (73–82°F) and a pH of 6.5–7.5. Native range: Asia, India and Bangladesh. Bengal loach care at a glanceTemperamentAggressiveAdult size15 cm (5.9 in)Minimum tank210 L (55 US gal)Temperature23–28°C (73–82°F)pH6.5–7.5DietOmnivore. Accepts frozen foods and live foods. Species factsScientific nameBotia darioFamilyCobitidae (Loaches)OrderCypriniformes (Carps)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.1EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 10 demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: India and Bangladesh. Reported from Bhutan.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More loachesHorseface loachAcantopsis choirorhynchosReticulate loachBotia lohachataZebra loachBotia striataCoolie loachPangio kuhliiSkunk botiaYasuhikotakia morletiDwarf botiaYasuhikotakia sidthimunkiSee all loaches Can it live with...?Bengal loach and Banded mountain loachBengal loach and Blyth's loachBengal loach and Clown loachBengal loach and Coolie loachBengal loach and Dwarf botiaBengal loach and Hillstream loachBengal loach and Horseface loachBengal loach and Pond loachBengal loach and Redtail botia / Blue botiaBengal loach and Reticulate loachBengal loach and Tiger loach SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026