Common spiny Loach

[The.Dark.One]

Interesting point about the YoYo cum Zebra. the almorhae complex is not known from Kerala, but striata is known from a bit further up the coast. I have got some papers with b&w images of strangely patterned striata's that have the Y and i pattern. So this is possibly what your Dad refers to.

[sanjeev]

well Graeme , it isn't exactly the pattern that matches but the general loach like shape. I wonder how many species could have been wiped off actually.

[sanjeev]

hey Graeme... Check out the Common Spiny loach river!!! But I couldn't get any Spiny Loaches. The current in the water was really bad. One of the reservoirs had opened its gates causing the water level to go up. During summer its atleast 3 feet lower. Thats the best time to get 'em.




No Spiny Loach Today.

[Graeme Robson]

Hi sanjeev. Excellent pictures there! It's so good to actually see these pictures of their natural habitat. Which type of method do you use to capture these loaches? Prod and capture them once they move onwards? Can i ask if we could use your pictures for the Loach species index? They would make a superb addition.

Thanks for sharing these images.

[sanjeev]

Sure Graeme.. You could put it in the species index.

There is no method per se. When The Water Level is lower, the Riverbed on the sides is completely exposed and you have little streams, running along the sides of the river. You can use a regular aquarium net to catch them. They don't move away much. Since they are semi buried, one can scoop it up along with the sand and hold the net in the water, so that the river washes the sand in the net away while keeping our guy in.

[Graeme Robson]

Thanks sanjeev, thats a great insight within this river and how you catch them. If possible could you take some pictures when the water level is lower so we can appreciate how these loaches live?

Many thanks.

[sanjeev]

Yup... But we'll have to wait till the monsoons get over. I think come summer, that would be the best time to head to the river.

[Graeme Robson]

Sounds good! Will you be watching for the water level to lower and try to capture some newly born fry of different species? I know i would!

[sanjeev]

Yup. I did catch a little Barb today. I'm not sure what it was. Its like a Tiger Barb with just one stripe. And I saw the bigger one next to a huge rock. The funny thing was, if distrubed it would move away but come back to the same position. And It would just stay there like a rock, and the current was pretty fast. It probably could have been guarding its eggs or something.

Actually what I really wanna do is to travel up the river. Where I'm at is very close to the sea. About 20 - 30 Kms away. This particular river system at higher altitudes is known to have other varieties of loaches. Temperature, substrate, water flow, will all be different. It should be pretty interesting.

[Emma Turner]

Excellent pictures Sanjeev, and I've really enjoyed hearing about your local waters and fishes.

Emma

[Graeme Robson]

Great info, Sanjeev. Much appreciated.

[piggy4]

Sanjeev, all i can do is echo what everyone here is saying, it really is wonderful hearing about your experiences , along this river , we are all looking forward to your next journey to the river ,well done , and thanks .
Andy,