Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Polka-dot Loach
Botia kubotai Kottelat, 2004
Also called Burmese border loach, Angelicus loach, Botia 'angelicus', Marbled loach, Cloud botia
From The upper Salween basin on the Myanmar-Thailand border: the Ataran (Kasat) river in Kayin State, Myanmar, and the Suriya river in Tak Province, Thailand, including Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Medium, slightly compressed botiid loach
A handsome mid-sized loach with a pointed snout, barbels and sharp movable spines under the eyes. Most stay around 10 cm in tanks though they can reach 15 cm. Females are fuller-bodied with rounder snouts; males have longer snouts and fleshier lips.12
Personality what they are like
Sociable and generally not aggressive. In a group they click, follow each other and join in the excited 'loachy dance'. A lone fish tends to become shy or grumpy.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active bottom dweller that forages through the substrate and darts between hiding places, becoming more visible and confident in a larger group.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Fit a tight lid because they can jump. Provide many caves and hiding places, soft sand or smooth gravel, and clean, well-oxygenated water.12
Home where they are happiest
A base of at least 120 x 45 cm. Temperature about 22 to 30 °C, pH about 6.0 to 7.5, hardness about 0 to 10 dGH.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Mostly carnivorous. Feed sinking pellets, frozen or live bloodworm, blackworms and brine shrimp, plus some vegetables. They also eat small snails and shrimp.12
Company who they like around
Keep at least 5 or 6, ideally 10 or more. Peaceful cyprinids and other bottom dwellers make good companions.1
The story where it all began
This loach was found on the Thai-Myanmar border around 2002 and was sold in the hobby under names like 'angelicus' before scientists caught up. Maurice Kottelat formally described it in 2004 and named it after Katsuma Kubota, the Thai-based exporter who bought the first catch and sent fish off for identification.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It was available to aquarists before it had a scientific name, often sold as Botia 'angelicus'.1
- 2
It honours Katsuma Kubota, an aquarium fish exporter in Thailand who sent the first fish for identification.2
- 3
Its pattern changes a lot with age: juveniles are mostly black bars on yellow, while adults gain a spotted, marbled look.2
- 4
It has collected an unusually long list of trade names, from 'cloud botia' to 'leopard loach'.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Data Deficient (assessed March 2011)3
- Taxonomy
- Family Botiidae, part of the Botia histrionica group. Described by Maurice Kottelat in 2004 and named after Katsuma Kubota.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Polka-dot Loach. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Seriously Fish: Botia kubotai seriouslyfish.comused for names, origin, size, tank and water, diet, behaviour, colour change, taxonomy
- Wikipedia: Botia kubotai en.wikipedia.orgused for discovery, name origin, typical size, care
- FishBase: Botia kubotai summary fishbase.seused for length, IUCN status, colour description
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.