Description
Red Tail Botia – Bold, Colorful Bottom-Dweller with Personality
(Yasuhikotakia modesta)
The Red Tail Botia, also known as the Redtail Loach or Blue Botia, is a striking and active freshwater loach known for its metallic blue-grey body and vibrant red or orange tail fin. Native to the rivers of Southeast Asia, this robust species is both hardy and full of character, often seen exploring the bottom of the tank or interacting with tankmates.
Key Features:
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Eye-catching contrast between steel-blue body and bright red tail
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Active and social, with a bold personality
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Best kept in groups of 3 or more to reduce aggression and encourage natural behaviour
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Excellent scavenger that helps clean up leftover food from the substrate
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Ideal for large aquariums with ample hiding spots
Care Information:
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Scientific Name: Yasuhikotakia modesta
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Adult Size: 15–18 cm (6–7 inches)
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Temperature: 24–28°C
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pH Range: 6.5–7.5
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Tank Size: Minimum 200 litres, with soft substrate and hiding places like driftwood or caves
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Diet: Omnivorous – enjoys sinking pellets, algae wafers, bloodworms, and other meaty foods
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Compatibility: Semi-aggressive; suitable with similarly sized robust fish (avoid small or timid tankmates)
Why Choose the Red Tail Botia?
The Red Tail Botia brings bold color, intelligent behavior, and bottom-level activity to larger community or semi-aggressive aquariums. With proper care and space, these loaches become long-lived and engaging members of your aquatic setup.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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