Skunk Loaches?

[Danieow]

I've seen pictures of them online but never in any local pet shops. Are these loaches simply morphs of the clown loach or a different breed? I know they can live together, when I get a second (and bigger) tank I plan to get some if I can ever find them *crosses fingers*

P.S. Some skunks that I've seen online look *very* similar to Clowns but some are completely different. Are there different breeds of skunks?

 

[The-Wolf]

IMHO
avoid them like the tax man
they are a seperate species Botia morleti
they are the spawn of satan and will eat the fins of
every other fish you have with them.

 

[Danieow]

lol. Are they really that bad? If so I probably wouldn't get them, what I love about clown loaches is that they're so peaceful.

 

[Lateral Line]

The Skunk Loach, (Botia morleti, although often sold under the old name Botia horae), is a little fish with a big attitude problem. They are aggressive way beyond their size.

Viz Clown Loaches, I don't see how anyone could confuse the two. Skunk Loaches have no clearly obvious vertical bands like a clown. Young fish often show a few thin vertical stripes but these fade with age and are really thin.

There are dozens of species of Botia - are you sure the "Skunk Loaches" you saw that looked like Clown Loaches weren't really something else?

 

[Danieow]

It's possible, they may have just been "called" Skunk Loaches. I'm guessing the ones i saw were probably just a morph of a clown loach since it was so similar. I wish I could dig up the website to show, if I find it I'll post the link.

 

[digital_run]

Heres one of my skunks...i have 5 all together now and even though they are "spawns from hell"....they fit right in with me...

Ðigital..

 

[LoachLover]

lol. Are they really that bad? If so I probably wouldn't get them, what I love about clown loaches is that they're so peaceful.

They are the most nasty loach a person could get, even I don't keep them anymore.

 

[squirrelrabbits]

I'm curious if those with experience with skunks believe their nastiness comes out as they age. I have a few of these guys and they've never proved troublesome, but they are not full grown and are in a tank with several species that can take care of themselves--a pleco, some fairly large kubotai and zebras, and a big fat modesta. Can I expect the skunks to become more difficult over time? Because, if so, I will plan out a specieis only tank for them.

 

[The-Wolf]

IME yes they get worse as they get older/bigger
I had three with some large clowns and 2x 8" yoyos, to name but a few botias, and they were little

A species only tank would be great for them

 

[LoachLover]

Yes, they did seem to get more agressive as they aged.