Loach ID needed ASAP!

juliethegr8t · Oct 16, 2004

So there is a long story behind these two (that doesn't involve me necessarily wanting them), but I need help IDing them before I let them into my tank. They were listed as "banded loaches", but I'm almost positive they aren't Botia hymenophysa. I even think they may be 2 different species. Problem is, I don't want an aggressive loach, or one that grows huge. Can't deal with either. They're just babies so might not be aggressive yet, but anyways. No flames please, just info. They'll probably be going into a breeder net until I know what they are.

Here is the smallest guy. You can see the bigger one in the back of the bag.

juliethegr8t · Oct 16, 2004

Excuse the larger pics, I think details are important here though. This is a shot of the bigger guy (1 1/2 inches or so), who looks more like a banded loach, but doesn't quite have the markings either. That's his reflection on the right so you can see his head shape.

juliethegr8t · Oct 16, 2004

One more of the bigger guy. Help. :dunno:

Edit: Changed my mind, I think the smaller pics are better.

konrad05 · Oct 16, 2004

One looks like a suemack loach.

edit: second picture on the right is definately a suemack from what I remember.

Acrobit · Oct 16, 2004

They look a bit like the ringed loaches I saw when I bought my tetras. I'm not sure if they are or if they are aggressive or get big, but they had twenty or so in the tank but I am guessing they were just babies.

I'm sorry I can't help more, but good luck.

small_fry · Oct 16, 2004

what about pakistani loach?

juliethegr8t · Oct 16, 2004

konrad & Acrobit - Do either of you know what the scientific names for those loaches are? I can't find information about either of those common names anywhere.

small_fry - Nope, they don't have the "YoYo" markings, but thanks.

Eek what do I do with them?!! :crazy:

konrad05 · Oct 16, 2004

here's a picture of a clear suemack loach

edit: I would toss them in!

juliethegr8t · Oct 16, 2004

No, I don't think that is either of them. The bigger one has more stripes, and the other has splotches. Neither is patterned all "swirly" like that.

Don't wanna toss em in if I have to take them back. Catching those things would destroy my tank.

Acrobit · Oct 16, 2004

I was just googling "Ringed Loach" and I went on a forum that was talking about the Dahli ringed loach - noemacheilus scaturigina. I couldn't find anything on them when I went to the site provided, aside from a couple of pictures. Here's the Dahli ringed loach page: http

/www.loaches.com/species_pages/dahli_ring_loach.html

You could try looking at the species page at www.loaches.com - http

/www.loaches.com/species_index.html.

small_fry · Oct 16, 2004

what about this nemacheilus selangoricus...

juliethegr8t · Oct 16, 2004

The Dahli Ringed Loach does look somewhat like the larger one, though I think mine's stripes are wider.

nemacheilus selangoricus might be it... I'm not quite sure. Mine's head looks different to me, and the stripes too. Unfortunately, if that's what it is, I'm sunk. Says they can be quite aggressive. :sad:

ARGH! They're in a large breeder net for now..

I've been looking through all the loach pages at loaches.com, but nothing seems to quite fit. I just don't know.

Thanks guys for helping, keep it up please!

small_fry · Oct 16, 2004

anytime ill keep looking and try to find one that matches

wuvmybetta · Oct 16, 2004

It's possibly in the schistura family. It looks very similar to the red tail zebra loaches I have/had (? haven't seen em in a while) But feel it's fair to warn you that mine were pure evil. Precious as can be but evil just the same. They slowly chewed my oto's (while I had no clue what happened) and one night I watched them gang up and pull an oto off the wall,killing him before I could save him.

Here's what I've found so far
schistura subfusca
schistura vinciguerrae
schistura sexcauda
scistura similis

oops, I could be completely off because apparently I was looking at suemack's pic

juliethegr8t · Oct 17, 2004

Thanks everyone for your help. I think you're right wuv, I am almost positive they are in the schistura family. I'll try to get some better pics tomorrow. They're doing ok in the net, they pigged on bloodworms. In fact, I quite like the little guys.

They're very active and friendly (to me)! Unfortunate, because I'm afraid that family of loaches is mean to other fish. I guess I'll have to take them back or something, but let's keep trying to ID, just in case.

Unless anyone wants some free loaches? :unsure:

I wish I could just let them out in the tank to see how they act, but I know I'll never catch them again. Not with how long it took the pet store person to catch them, in an empty tank. :blink:

Loach ID needed ASAP!

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