HomeFreshwater aquarium fishLoachesDwarf botia Dwarf botia (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki) Scientific name: Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki Klausewitz, 1959 Photo: https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/dwarf-chain-loach-yasuhikotakia-sidthimunki/ The Dwarf botia (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki) is a freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae that grows to about 5 cm (2 in). It is moderate to keep and peaceful, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 115 L (30 US gal), water at 25–30°C (77–86°F) and a pH of 6.5–6.9. Native range: Asia, Northern India and Northern Thailand. Chao Phraya, Maeklong and Mekong river basins. Dwarf botia care at a glanceCare levelModerateTemperamentPeacefulCommunity tankGoodAdult size5 cm (2 in)Minimum tank115 L (30 US gal)Temperature25–30°C (77–86°F)pH6.5–6.9Hardness1–15 dGH (18–268 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts flakes, frozen foods and live foods. BiologyBody with black dorsal stripe; 7-8 branched dorsal rays; a black midlateral stripe, dispersed as a series of joined blotches posteriorly and connected by bars to dorsal stripe.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameYasuhikotakia sidthimunkiFamilyCobitidae (Loaches)OrderCypriniformes (Carps)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length5.5EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19 demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Chao Phraya and Mekong basins and Maeklong basin.Conservation status (IUCN)Critically Endangered (CR)(A1c)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More loachesRedtail botia / Blue botiaYasuhikotakia modestaClown loachChromobotia macracanthusTiger loachSyncrossus hymenophysaSkunk botiaYasuhikotakia morletiBanded mountain loachAcanthocobitis urophthalmusHorseface loachAcantopsis choirorhynchosSee all loaches Can it live with...?Dwarf botia and Banded mountain loachDwarf botia and Bengal loachDwarf botia and Black ghostDwarf botia and Black sharkminnowDwarf botia and Blackbarred limiaDwarf botia and Bleeding-heart tetraDwarf botia and Bloodfin tetraDwarf botia and Bluespotted corydorasDwarf botia and Blyth's loachDwarf botia and Brilliant rasboraDwarf botia and Butterfly splitfinDwarf botia and Chinese suckerDwarf botia and Clown barbDwarf botia and Clown loachDwarf botia and Clown rasboraDwarf botia and Coolie loachDwarf botia and Crescent bettaDwarf botia and Dwarf rainbowfishDwarf botia and Eel LoachDwarf botia and Forktail rainbowfishDwarf botia and Gangetic leaffishDwarf botia and Garnet tetraDwarf botia and Glass catfishDwarf botia and Glowlight tetraDwarf botia and Goldeneye cichlidDwarf botia and Head-and-taillight tetraDwarf botia and Hillstream loachDwarf botia and Horseface loachDwarf botia and Indian glassy fishDwarf botia and Leopard corydoras 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