Help! Please ID This Tiny Loach...

[pisces70]

I found this little loach at Petco yesterday and decided he was interesting enough to try in my tank. It was sold to me as a Yoyo Loach, which seems crazy since there's obviously no yoyo pattern on this fish. There are 6 solid black, but wavy stripes on a very white, silvery body, one black stripe is almost in a V shape because it's on either side of the dorsal fin.

Right now the loach is only as big as a veiltail cherry barb as you can see in the last photo. He's been everywhere in the tank, swimming, cleaning driftwood and sand and he's not shy at all. He quibbles with the male barb over the spot the barbs have claimed in the tank.

I've researched loaches online and found at least 7 different juveniles that it could be, not certain since I've never seen this one before.
Any ideas or suggestions on which species this busy little loach is?

 

[mykidsmylife]

Okay, that little guy deserves a huge "AWWWW". Adorable.

I know yoyo's patterns can change as they age, so wouldn't completely rule it out. Doesn't seem like a zebra since the bars are too broad. Not sure. Perhaps Burmese?
It will be interesting to see what others think.

 

[pisces70]

Species Photos from Loaches.com...



Above juveniles are in order from left to right:
Botia histrionica
Botia kubotai
Botia udomritthiruji (supposed to be a rare find)

Which do you think my little loach resembles the most? Or none of the above, keep searching?

 

[mykidsmylife]

Well..the histrionica (Burmese) looks most similar to me. But so hard to tell since that is a picture of an older one. Plus they do tend to have more of a yellow to them than white. I have noticed that as most loaches mature that their patterns do seem to change plus it will vary a bit from fish to fish within that same type.

look here http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/profiles/burmese-loach/ the first/smallest loach seems to resemble yours in body shape. Just not certain! lol

 

[pisces70]

This could be my loach...



This photo of the Botia histrionica is the most simliar I've seen to mine so far...thank you to mykidsmylife.
Then when you look up the species, you get all kinds of pattern variations...we'll see as he grows up!

 

[mykidsmylife]

View attachment 193815

This photo of the Botia histrionica is the most simliar I've seen to mine so far...thank you to mykidsmylife.
Then when you look up the species, you get all kinds of pattern variations...we'll see as he grows up!

 

[pisces70]

This little loach had me worried that he had jumped out of the tank this afternoon and had become a kitty snack...I couldn't find him for nothing! I moved the driftwood and searched everywhere in the tank with no luck. Late tonight after the lights went off, I saw him peeking out of a cozy little hole he found in the driftwood! Sneaky little thing...lol!

 

[constevens]

Just looking at it from your picture Im about 98% sure this little guy looks like a Juvenile Angelicus Boatia. (Aka Botia kubotai)

The pattern they get as Juvi's is just like that then they will change quite drastically. VERY beautiful fish. One of my favorite Botia/Loach. They get about 5" long. Nice and thick. They are awesome personality wise and are avid snail eaters. They do like a softer substrate as they do bury themselves So thats how sometimes they can also disappear.

Take a look at this page here and scroll down to the bottom pic of the Juvenile and it looks just like what you have. At least this is what I think it is. AND this is a very common Loach to see in pet smart and pet co. Im sure its not a Yoyo.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-kubotai

 

[pisces70]

@constevens...That's the other main species that I was thinking this loach could be, but his bars aren't as quite as rippled and wavy as the photos I've seen but I'm sure they are all a bit different just like fingerprints, right? I don't have any snails in this tank yet but I may add some shrimp and/or snails next week, the driftwood is getting kind of icky and needs a critter to clean it up.

It looks like I may have to wait for this tiny loach to grow into his adult pattern to know for sure what he is! But after having him just one day he's already become quite a character so I'm happy that I snagged him for my tank. I just wish they had more than one in stock, I'll have to watch for more.

 

[pisces70]

I found out that my loach is for sure a Botia kubotai. Aka: angelicus loach, Burmese loach, cloud loach, polka-dot loach, marble loach and whatever else they call them.
I was lucky enough to find another one today at the other chain store and they had them listed as Angelicus loach for a much higher price but I bought the largest they had and now this tiny little guy is happily out and about and being social with his new buddy instead of hiding. Thank you all for the help!