Loaches Online Forum

I have tried to get pics of this fish for a long time but, he is extremely camera shy and takes off when I get near the tank. Here is a poor quality pic of him out foraging today. (sorry about the water spots).
The pattern of this fish has changed little in the three or four years I have had him. He has those large yellow discs that you see in the front half, all over his body and very few small spots. I hope to get better pics of this fish. Has anyone else every seen one with these markings?

Very nice Jim!

I remember seeing these chaps a couple of years ago and i'm still kicking myself for not getting some. I've never seen the 'stretched polka's' since.

It's a beauty, Jim, and yes, I have seen some like that (not very many though). I know I have a pic of one somewhere, but do you think I can find it?!

Emma

Great photo Jim, never saw any B. kubotai patterned like that before. Good to know.

Mike

Finally found the pic! This was taken a few days after import, hence why the loach isn't all that plump. It does show the elongated polka dots though:



Emma

I wonder if this is a regional variation?

Here's a picture of 2 of my 5 kubotai. Only these two are marked this way. The spots on mine aren't quite as elongated as yours and Emma's though. Sorry for the poor photo; I had to take the picture from across the room with flash. Shy little guys.

Jim and Emma look at the large kubs that Mark and I bought from my mates shop, isn't it feasable that your will change pattern to correspond to these?

mick

I have had my fish for 3-4 years now and the pattern has not changed which is also a bit odd.

how big are they though Jim, Marks are at least 5 inches SL, and my largest tops 6 inches SL.

mick

This fish is about 3.5".

i've got two Jim that are around that size that i've had for over a year now and very little has changed with their pattern, maybe it's a stopping of point before they get their adult pattern.
and as it's a fairly new species i don't think anyones grown one from a juvenile to full maturity, unless you know someone that has.

mick

Kubotai do seem to vary quite a lot , iremember yonks ago when they first started coming through , and Ken Childs was putting a lot of pics up and the difference was quite extensive , not just pattern but also the colouration too , even now you see some and have to look twice .

I know what Mick means , we could do with the sizes being put to the different Kub's to see if a trend emerges ! having said that i think in genral the young fishes always show more of the lighter base colour , i remember a pic of one of the Histrionicas in the Darkone's paper having a slight look of a Kubotai !

I think a good few of the Botias develope differently as they grow , its really only recently that we are starting to see them in photographs .

Emma Turner wrote:Finally found the pic! This was taken a few days after import, hence why the loach isn't all that plump. It does show the elongated polka dots though:



Emma

What a beautiful specimen!

Mike