Loach Identity

[The-Wolf]

I'm telling you again, it is a botia rostrata the sgt major loach aka ladder loach

 

[3ndl3r]

yeah it looks to me like a botia rostrata.

 

[loachman]

These two pages have alot of pictures of b. kubotai. You can see some of the pattern changes, although it's not tracked over that long a time

B.kubotai pattern changes

Picture of a young b.kubotai (at the bottom)

Various Photos The third one shows the black with golden/yellow spots that I was mentioning.

If you look at rostra photos, they have vertical bars. Next nothing oriented horizontally.

 

[o0ric0o]

Polka-Dot Loach it is took a really good look at him.

Thanx for the help guys/gals

 

[Lateral Line]

I'd go with B. kubotai as well.

 

[Rubix]

That's no Botia kubotai, too many gold patches. Would it be possible to get a better picture of it? I think it's perhaps a Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki. By the way, nice tank it looks just like mine used to before I moved; and I also keep glass cats with my kubotai

 

[Lateral Line]

From the picture, I don't really see how you can comment on "gold patches", there are some flash highlights certainly. Y. sidthimunki very typically has a strong central stripe and checkerboard like apttern above the stripe whilst being basically silver below it. The fish pictured has similar marking below the medial stripe, typical of the B. kubotai, which is a very variable species. Consider also the markings generally, strong vertical AND horizontal marking, very typical of B. kubotai in whatever pattern morph it is wearing.

 

[Rubix]

Barely seeing through the smudge on the glass I count seven "gold patch" columns. While I've seen many variations I've never seen a kubotai with anything other than five "gold columns" when young and four when mature, with or without the "bluish tinged spots" mentioned earlier which are usually absent on young kubotai. I admit the gold color is identical to that of the kubotai, but I'm not yet convinced this is a kub. I also admit, however, the coloration of the "head" and the eye does not resemble that of a Y. sidthimunki but moreso a kubotai. Heck, there are plenty of loaches that have not been described, perhaps you've stumbled upon one, who knows. A better picture is not only necessary for an accurate identification, but because this is an interesting variation of whatever species it may be.
Whatever the outcome, basic care is the same. The biggest issue would be which species to keep it with since they need to be kept in groups.

edit: Like The-Wolf, I'm beginning to think Botia rostrata. I've brought this fish up with people I consider to be loach experts and the feedback so far has unanimously Botia rostrata. The more I look at rostrata the more I see similiarities.

 

[Lateral Line]

In B. rostrata's markings the vertical is predominant, the fish pictured clearly has very clear and obvious horizontal markings, it is for that reason I find B. rostrata less likely the B. kubotai.

The large "window" at the front of the loach seems to be divided by a thin vertical mark, I have seen others like that. Is that why you are counting more there then I?

 

[mikev]

In B. rostrata's markings the vertical is predominant

LL is of course correct...however, there is clearly some confusion between B.Kubotai and B.Rostrata...the original B.Rostrata specimen, used to describe the species, had horizontal markings.... Still, this fish looks more of a Kubotai.

A decent photo from OP would make this discussion more productive.