HomeFreshwater aquarium fishLoachesRedtail botia / Blue botia Redtail botia / Blue botia (Yasuhikotakia modesta) Scientific name: Yasuhikotakia modesta Bleeker, 1864 Photo: https://www.loaches.com/species-index/yasuhikotakia-modesta The Redtail botia / Blue botia (Yasuhikotakia modesta) 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 285 L (75 US gal), water at 24–27°C (75–81°F) and a pH of 6.5–8.0. Native range: Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia in the Mekong, Chao Phraya and the Mae Khlong river basins. Redtail botia / Blue botia care at a glanceTemperamentAggressiveAdult size15 cm (5.9 in)Minimum tank285 L (75 US gal)Temperature24–27°C (75–81°F)pH6.5–8.0DietOmnivore. Accepts frozen foods and live foods. BiologyDorsal soft rays: 12-13; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 30 - 32. Usually 8 branched dorsal rays; a bluish to greyish body; a dark vertical bar at caudal-fin base and bright orange to red fins in life; lacks a mid-dorsal stripe at all ages; large ethmoid spine perpendicular to snout when viewed from above; large mental lobe; young may be iridescent green with numerous narrow black bars.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameYasuhikotakia modestaFamilyCobitidae (Loaches)OrderCypriniformes (Carps)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length25.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 12 demersal; potamodromousClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, and Mae Khlong basin.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: highly commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More loachesDwarf botiaYasuhikotakia sidthimunkiClown loachChromobotia macracanthusTiger loachSyncrossus hymenophysaSkunk botiaYasuhikotakia morletiBanded mountain loachAcanthocobitis urophthalmusHorseface loachAcantopsis choirorhynchosSee all loaches Can it live with...?Redtail botia / Blue botia and Banded mountain loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Bengal loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Blyth's loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Clown loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Coolie loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Dwarf botiaRedtail botia / Blue botia and Hillstream loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Horseface loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Pond loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Reticulate loachRedtail botia / Blue botia and Skunk botiaRedtail botia / Blue botia 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