Unidentified loach + a misc. question

R

rodinia

AC Members
Jan 15, 2006
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Hello. I just purchased a mystery loach from petco. I'm sorry I don't have a picture. He is very shy and proving impossible to photograph so far. I'll describe him the best I can. I'll edit this post with a pic in the event I get that lucky.

He's about 3 inches long. He has a long, pointy face. He has a narrow body. His body has gold and black striations. There appears to be one y shape in the center of the striation patterns. The striations on his face form a V shape, the center of which meets at the end of his nose.
I have a yoyo loach and he is similar but clearly different than my yoyo.
His tail is forked and faintly carries the striations of his body about halfway and so far, the remaining half of his tail is translucent with no distinct coloration.
His dorsal fin is translucent as well and has a small black dot at the bottom center.

I've looked through pic after pic with no certainty as to what he was.
Oh, and his eyes are also quite large for his head.
He acts peaceful, shy but very curious of his new home. My yoyo greeted him, rubbed along his side and abandoned him. He was not afraid of my yoyo.


My misc. question is about my yoyo loach. I've got a tall, forked piece of driftwood that I stand straight up representing a trunk. At the fork, I've got a large and lush chunk of java fern that is constantly popping off little baby java ferns. My yoyo loach has made himself a little nest/cave inside the java fern. The driftwood is about a foot high. The fern nest is near the top of the driftwood. My tank is 24" deep. Is this unusual loach behavior?
 
another observation

I've been observing this loach a bit more. I've still been unsuccessful trying to photograph him. I've noted that his black bands are about twice as thick as his gold bands. The bands are many. The black dot is not at the bottom of his dorsal fin as first stated, rather it's on the top. The bands are vertical.
 
I bought the last one they had. He joins the land of misfit loaches.

It's not the loach you noted but I thank you greatly for the help.

I've got a laid back friendly dojo loach. I've got a spunky but friendly yoyo loach who has adopted the dojo as a surrogate companion. I've got the three stooges, my kuhlii loaches, and now this mystery loach. My yoyo loach greeted mystery loach with a friendly rub.

He also joins a clan of 5 sparkling gouramis and a school of 5 harlequin rasboras.

My tank is 37 gallon column. 20x20x24. densely planted. I've got much driftwood and rocks for caves and hiding spots galore.

I've noted that he has about 15 stripes running down his body. His color is golden tan with the bands of black being twice as thick as the gold between.
 
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Do you know that dojo loaches are cold water fish that need to be kept at a temperature of around 60 degrees? I would consider getting more about 4 more dojo loaches and getting them their own aquarium. Your current aquarium is not going to be big enough for the others when they are adults either. Yoyo loaches do best when they are kept in groups of 5 or more in a 55+ gallon aquarium. As for you mystery loach what about Schistura nicholsi?
 
I do realize loaches like groups. Unfortunately, I can't get my hands on yoyo loaches. I've been trying with my 2 local pet stores for several months now with no luck.

I don't want to get another dojo yet. I'll be upgrading his habitat soon. I'm getting ready to purchase a larger aquarium (75 or 90) with the intention of turning it into a cold river aquarium (Amur) with some sticklebacks and a decent school of dojo's.
 
I replied before I got to read your last post. Yes, I do realize dojo's are coldwater fish. No, I'm not a fish torturer. His well being is a priority and I'm actively taking steps to provide an optimal habitat. Yes, I admit the dojo was an impulse purchase and I learned of his needs after I bought him. He has won my heart with his personality and I want the best life for him. Not that he'd be neglected if he hadn't won my heart. It just makes it that much more of an urgent priority.
I love loaches, they are so quirky and spunky. I love their personalities.

As for the other fish you listed, no, that's not it either. The nose is longer and pointier and the caudal fin isn't red. Also, the bands aren't equal width.

My best option is to try to capture his image. It's already proving a challenge.
 
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