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Burmese border loach (Botia kubotai) — Cobitidae

Burmese border loach

Botia kubotai
Family: Cobitidae

The Burmese border loach (Botia kubotai) is a freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Burmese border loach is a loach (Botiidae) from fresh water of the Salween basin on the border of Myanmar and Thailand in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a stocky body with a striking, chessboard-like pattern of dark and light bands and blotches, barbels and an erectile spine below the eye. As a gregarious bottom-dweller it roots through sand and gravel in clear, flowing streams in search of snails and insect larvae. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Burmese border loach?

The Burmese border loach has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Burmese border loach live?

The Burmese border loach lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Burmese border loach get?

The Burmese border loach grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Burmese border loach dangerous to humans?

No, the Burmese border loach is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Schaakbord-botia sourced
English name
Burmese border loach sourced
Scientific name
Botia kubotai
Family
Cobitidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Botia

More from the family Cobitidae

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