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View Full Version : Help with identifying a couple loaches.



Khemul
11-26-2010, 3:17 PM
The store these came from doesn't list scientific names and the employees tend to be helpful mostly only with Cichlids and SW fish. They've even changed the common name a couple times.

When I got the first one a few months back it was labeled as "Red-Tailed Loach" and the employee kept calling it "Red-Tailed Botia". Botia is definately out, but Red-Tailed Loach does seem to fit with a bunch of different loach species. A month or so back the tank label changed to "Assorted Loaches", which definately doesn't narrow it down. Just got a 2nd one today and this time they were labeled as "Red-Tailed Weather Loach", which again doesn't sound right.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr71/khemul/2010-11-21112918.jpgThis is the original one I got. Usually refered to as "Big Loach" or "Cthulhu". He was a lot brighter in color when I got him with bright red on the tail, fins, and nose. That picture was during one of its 'redecorating' moods. It sometimes like to run back and forth very quickly along the glass, kicking sand over everything.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr71/khemul/2010-11-26144719.jpgThis is the newbie. This one's stripes are much brighter then the first one but the redness in the fins, tail, and nose is the same.


So far I'm thinking Schistura mahnerti, Aborichthys elongatus or Schistura notostigma most closely resemble it. Aborichthys elongatus seems to look just like it in some pictures, but nothing like them in others. Maybe one of the Schistura types is more likely. The older one seems in the 4-4.5" range. The newer one is a little smaller. No more then an inch smaller, more likely half an inch.

Hooked Newbie
11-26-2010, 3:35 PM
My vote... Acanthocobitis rubidipinnis (http://www.aquariacentral.com/species-index/acanthocobitis-rubidipinnis). Regardless, very nice pickup! :)

fishorama
11-26-2010, 3:55 PM
Boy they're though to tell but not the one's you guessed I think. My first thought was http://www.loaches.com/species-index/acanthocobitis-rubidipinnis.

If you want better help, post over on loaches.com, there's some real experts there. If you have any collection info, that helps too. Be sure to mention where (city, shop?) you got the fish, maybe some else saw them too

They look attractive, even better if the red was showing more. How are they aggression-wise with each other or tankmates?

Hey HN, that was fast! Great minds & all that

Khemul
11-26-2010, 4:02 PM
My vote... Acanthocobitis rubidipinnis (http://www.aquariacentral.com/species-index/acanthocobitis-rubidipinnis). Regardless, very nice pickup! :)

I kept searching for 'Red' and hadn't even considered 'Cherry'. :rofl: Looks just like them though, thanks.

Khemul
11-26-2010, 4:25 PM
Boy they're though to tell but not the one's you guessed I think. My first thought was http://www.loaches.com/species-index/acanthocobitis-rubidipinnis.

If you want better help, post over on loaches.com, there's some real experts there. If you have any collection info, that helps too. Be sure to mention where (city, shop?) you got the fish, maybe some else saw them too

They look attractive, even better if the red was showing more. How are they aggression-wise with each other or tankmates?

Hey HN, that was fast! Great minds & all that

They didn't seem to take much notice of each other when I added the new one. Will watch more closely for aggression though. Plenty of caves and plants though so don't think territory will be an issue.

The original one is not what I'd describe as 'aggressive'. Maybe more of 'pushy'. Around feeding it will sometimes come out and start chasing everything in sight away from the food then go back into it's cave without touching a thing. :screwy:


With the new 40g setup aggression isn't much of an issue. Actually hiding is worrying me more. The new Black Kuhli hides most the time (actually lives inside the deep holes in the largest rock) and comes out when lights are off to eat. But it took the regular Kuhlis a while to get comfortable with swimming out in the open. My Sumo loach (still only about 1-1.5"), who barely hide in my gravel bottom 28g, decided that the best place to live in the sand bottom 40g is inside/under the larger rocks. I never see him eat or know he is even alive until I move a rock. Don't mind not seeing the fish, but am worried about it starving.



Looks like, Acanthocobitis rubidipinnis though now that I see that species. Will have to take a closer look when I get home (Acanthocobitis urophthalmus is rather similar).