What Loach Is This?

[who-izzet]

Could someone tell me what Loach this is? I brought them as Sumo Tiger Loaches but I don't think they look like them at all as the Sumo's have yellow on them and different fins.

I've looked at the species list on this forum and I would say they look alot like the Burmese-Border Sand Loach. What do you think?

 

[mikev]

A Schistura, either Schistura mahnerti (most common), or one of the similar species (S.Poculi, S. vinciguerrae, S.subfusca, etc).

Exact ID would be difficult.

It is, however, certainly NOT a Sumo loach, which usually means S.Balteata. You may consider this to be good news: Schisturas are territorial and may fight to death, and Sumo's are about the worst in this way.

hth

 

[who-izzet]

A Schistura, either Schistura mahnerti (most common), or one of the similar species (S.Poculi, S. vinciguerrae, S.subfusca, etc).

Exact ID would be difficult.

It is, however, certainly NOT a Sumo loach, which usually means S.Balteata. You may consider this to be good news: Schisturas are territorial and may fight to death, and Sumo's are about the worst in this way.

hth

Thanks mate. I didn't know that about the Sumo Loach either so it sounds like I'm lucky. These are very playfull like the Pakistan Loach. All 4 were sitting under the bogwood facing the same way, up close to each other last night. It was funny.

 

[mikev]

well, lets hope that they remain playful and friendly, these are schistura's. My S.Poculi's (I think you saw the profile on this forum) were good for two years, but then the last summer went homicidal. They are quite capable of sharing a shelter while they get accustomed to the tank and then fighting to the death over the ownership rights.

 

[who-izzet]

Lets hope they don't kill each other then!