Loaches Online Forum

I stopped by my favorite lfs today and ended up bringing home the last orange chela and celestial pearl danios they had (one of each) to add to my schools of those species.
But the coolest find was something neither they nor I had seen before.
They were listed as Manchurian loaches.
I'm not sure if they are Leptobotia mantschurica or maybe a Parabotia such as P. maculosa.
Anyone have any thoughts?
And, for anyone from Indiana or Illinois who would like to take a drive and get the three they have left or some nice young rostratas, the fish came from Aquarium World in Lafayette, Indiana.

Jim, i think TDO has to be summoned for this one mate.
great looking loaches you've picked up, why did you leave the last three bud?.

mick

I left the last three because I didn't have enough room for them.

I would say Parabotia fasciata Jim.....NICE!

Martin.

looks very similar Martin, just one thing bothers me in the pic on fishbase the head marking don't look like Jims fish?.

mick

Its interesting, the lfs manager has an autographed copy of the Loach book and he used it as a reference. There are three pics that look like they might be this fish. One is the L. mantschurica, another is the P. maculosa and the other is the fish on page 243 without a caption.
That fish looks most like mine.
Looking at the species index I would agree that P. faciata looks like a good possibility too.

Beauties Jim! I wish was near Indiana!

What a great find, Jim. More pics please!

Emma

Cool fish Jim, congrats with the acquisition. Hope they settle in well.

Mike

I'd say Fasciata Jim , though not certain ?
I picked up a lone specimen whilst out with The darkone rescently , so far it seems a nice natured none aggresive fish !
Never too sure with the Chinese loaches , the literature is a little scant , and a little at odds with itself mind you , it could be me not grasping things properly

So far, these guys seem to be rather mellow.
I hope they stay that way.

Here are a couple of pics of my new loaches that are probably Parabotia fasciata
Sorry for the low quality of the pics, but I wanted to get some posted.
They are interesting fish and don't seem to be nearly as camera shy as my botias and sinobotias. They do like to stick to the shadows but will come out often and don't seem to be scared of me or the camera flash.
They have been chasing each other today, but nothing serious.
I have yet to confirm that they are eating, but they look very healthy.

Cool photos Jim and even cooler fish! Keep us updated as to how they progress, their mannerisms, etc.

Mike

They are definately eating today.
I even had one eat brine shrimp out of the end of a feeding tube.
They seem to like the bloodworms too. But then what fish doesn't.

Oh wow!!! They are superb!! Great find Jim!

Keep us updated on their behaivoiur...etc

(They look like Parabotia fasciata)