Loaches Online Forum

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Syncrossus beauforti
Checks on pattern extend all over body... No stripes

Syncrossus berdmorei
Checks on front half of body top to bottom...Underlying vertical stripping


Syncrossus helodes
Checks on lower half of body only nose to tail....underlying vertical stripping

Syncrossus hymenophysa
stripping only .....no checks

Syncrossus reversa
stripping only.....no checks....please explain the difference from hymenophysa

Have I missed any of the Tigers of this body shape as the Laos is very different and distinctive. I am adding some to existing stock and want to be sure of my order.Are there exceptions?

Did you check them out at the LOL species index? They are all described there with nice photos. Just a thought.

I think the best loach experts would have to go and consult the references to confirm or deny that list of specifics, Tinman.

Hopefully a Syncrossus expert will attempt the job!

I have looked here and many other places bslindgren and have struggled with this ID for years. The simple differences to appearance seem to be somewhat obvious when stated this way. The behaviors are much different. A berdmorei or helodes will tear up a beauforti from experiance.
I want to be able to recognize these in a store irregardless of the stores ID on the tank . If this is over simplifacation then I will go another direction for my answers.

About 10 days ago, I got some S. beauforti in at long last.


Tinman, did you see the article Telling Tigers Apart?: http://www.loaches.com/articles/telling ... ssus-genus

Here is a useful pic taken from the article:


I did actually hope to have an article on Tiger Loaches up on the site by now. It has been due for publication in Tropical World for some time now, and usually a month or so after publication I am able to add the unedited version here. There seems to be a delay in bringing the latest issue out though.

Emma

Hi Tinman , nice species breakdown , though i'd say Beauforti has stripes , the best way of telling Beaufoti apart from Berdmorei for me would be the colouration ! Beauforti is of a strange purplish grey colour on the body ! wheras Berdmorei is a metalic gold with greenish stripes , also i think Berdmorei is quite variable , i have two types typical ones as mentioned and a fully spotted type also , as depicted in TheDarkones C D about Syncrossus , i must try and get Mick [thefish] to take some pics of these !

Hi Tinman,

Keep in mind I know nothing about Tiger Loaches. I do own two that I am pretty sure are Syncrossus hymenophysa (Green Tiger Loach), and the deciding factor for me was that it had a black spot on the dorsal fin. It also had the stripe orientation described. Maybe when you go fish shopping, you should carry the picture ID cheat sheet in your wallet. Tanja.

Emma said

Tinman, did you see the article Telling Tigers Apart?: http://www.loaches.com/articles/telling ... ssus-genus

I spend lots of time on the rest of this site as well as here. The article you speak of is excellent and one of the most concise I have found and it led to my brief descriptions and hopes I may distinguish the Tigers in my travels around here with common names predominant and non consistant at the stores.

Piggy4 said

as depicted in TheDarkones C D about Syncrossus

This intrests me, Is it available. I know TheDarkLord spends numerous hours catorgorizing and working on ID and names. I did not know it was published.


Emma said

I did actually hope to have an article on Tiger Loaches up on the site by now. It has been due for publication in Tropical World for some time now, and usually a month or so after publication I am able to add the unedited version here

I will watch for this....You are too blame for this increase in fish load to be added here btw. You realize that I assume I am up 15 Almorhae already which are very Golden in hue .I am very pleased by this I might add.I lay in bed thinking of your Syncrossus tank trying to shake it from my head but can not....like that guy in Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind

I am also adding Beauforti to my existing which I am positive on the ID now,which I have as a grr tank.

The other Tigers I have were purchased as Queen Botia and I belive to be Helodes as the checks are only on the lower half.These are the triple grr tank and are very violent and had to be removed from my Beauforti as they harrased them beyond belief at a low fish count in my tank.

I am also starting a Berdmorei collection if and when I find them

Starsplitter. That is a good idea. I will print these small pics Emma added from the article and carry them on my quest around town