Above: In this picture is a young premium quality Royal Clown Botia, swimming in one of our tanks, when one of our crew members took this picture.
Comments: This is a Premium Pet Fish, and we never see Premium Fish like this in any of the live fish stores or online stores that we visit.
Our Premium Pet Fish are more energetic, hardier, and have brighter colors with a beautiful metallic sheen.
Click here to learn more about Our Premium Pet Fish.
Origin: These Botia are caught in fast flowing rivers and streams in China, and they now live in aquariums throughout most of the world.
Maximum Size: In aquariums Royal Clown Botia can grow to be about 12" long, including their tails.
Rarely very old females are even bigger. In their natural habitat they can grow to be 20" long.
Behaviors: Royal Clown Botia are active swimmers and quarrel gently with each other but are rarely aggressive.
They need a cave to hide in and spend a lot time hidden away to then come out and flash their beautiful pattern.
Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include Barbs, Rainbowfish, Gouramis, and many other aquarium fish that are not too aggressive and not too small, or they will be eaten.
Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.
Temperature: They live well from about 68 to 75 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 72 degrees F.
Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.
Feeding: Premium Pellet Food.
Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.
Water Conditions: Royal Clown Botia seem to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of 7 to 8 with moderate hardness is best.
Most water in the US is about the same, and seems to be OK for Royal Clown Botia, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.
Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.
Like all long slender fish from river habitats, it is very important to give them frequent partial water changes.
Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.
Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 60-gallon tank, when they're 4" to 6" long, but a bigger aquarium is better.
Allow at least 6-gallons of water for each Royal Clown Botia under 6" long. They grow fast and at about 6" should move into a bigger aquarium.
Eventually they'll need to live in a much bigger aquarium with 150 to 300-gallons of water.
Decor: Royal Clown Botia do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.
They do seem to enjoy some round aquarium-safe rocks on the bottom, which emulates their natural habitat.
Click here for more about aquarium gravel.
Live Plants are beautiful and improve the water quality. But Royal Clown Botia do not seem to need plants. Probably because their natural habitat is rivers and streams without plants.
Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. A Penguin 350B Filter in an aquarium with 60-gallons of water is OK to start with a few Royal Clown Botia that are less than 6" long.
At 6" long Royal Clown Botia should move into a bigger aquarium with several Penguin 350B Filters, and eventually a much larger aquarium with 150 to 300-gallons of water and as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit along the back edge or a more sophisticated filtering system.
Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.
The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.
Life Span: Royal Clown Botia can live in excess of 20-years, if they're fed premium food and kept in a very large aquarium with very fresh water.
Gender: As they mature females fill with eggs and become plumper than males, who are raised in the same group.
Breeding: There've been no reports of Royal Clown Botia spawning in aquariums.
Popularity: Royal Clown Botia are rare in aquariums.
Names: The scientific name of Royal Clown Botia is Leptobotia elongata.
Variations: There are no variations known to us.
We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.
DrT - 10/20/2016
All of our fish are Premium Quality Fish from the best suppliers in the world. Our fish have better health, more energy and brighter colors, as you can see in our pictures on this website.
We have 380-aquariums with lots-and-lots of popular aquarium fish plus lots-and-lots of rare fish!
We consider ourselves to be the link between the world's best sources of fish and the world's best customers. We love our work, and we are very responsible about caring for our fish and then shipping them carefully.
We also offer lots and lots of information about keeping and caring for pet fish, all from the knowledge of the Bailey Brothers, who have a combined total of 100+ years of experience as breeders, wholesalers, and retailers of pet fish!
Our fish and our customers are treated with the best of care, and we work energetically everyday to make sure every customer enjoys their new fishy friends.
When you purchase pet fish from us, you know you're receiving premium quality fish and premium quality service.
"Received my fish last night and was so pleased! They all arrived alive and appeared to be healthy.
"Once in the tank, they became very active and are now thriving in their new home.
"Beautiful fish, I asked for color and aquariumfish delivered. Processing and shipping was extremely quick."
Nevin and DrTom, the Bailey Brothers
This website is owned and operated by the Bailey Brothers, DrTom and Nevin, who've been together in the fish business for more than 50-years.
The Product Manager has been with the company for more than 35-years.
So we feel very confident that this is the fishiest crew anywhere.