Loaches Online Forum

Hi all, I'm a new poster (anywhere) and this is the 2nd time I'm trying this. I've used lots of the great info here before & since getting my clowns last year.

My question is about some small, 1/2 inch, sids at a lfs. there were 10 or 12 normal looking kinda pale ones on light sand & 2-3 slightly smaller ones that were more cylindrical with very round pink stomachs. Do you think they are still very young or could this be a sign of disease ? the only fish we ever bred were cichlids & they had lost the baby look by this size.These are the first sids I've seen in 20 years & I'd really like to have them again but I'm having concerns. Any advice please, not sure I can resist if they're still there.

Thanks, Nancy

I don't think pink is a colour I'd associate with healthy sids. Redness to the belly could be swelling. Mind you, half an inch is pretty tiny - has anyone else seen immature sids before?

Either way, I'd wait a week or two before picking them up. If they sell out, the shop will likely get another batch.

Like Mark says, pink bellies in sids is not what you would expect. These are very healthy sids of around 3/4" SL or around 1" TL.....



I saw itty bitty sids years ago in Swallow Aquatics, Norfolk, England. They were just a bit skinnier looking versions of the above. I guess it's possible that the "pink" ones had belles full of say Bloodworm or Brine Shrimp, but is so, why weren't the others showing at least some colour? Obviously, tiny fish can show some colour through their bodies due to what's in their stomach, but theoretically the whole tank ought to be looking alike.

It could be a sign of a bacterial infection. Best to wait and see how the fish do for a while. If they seem OK, go ahead, but do remember to quarantine them before adding to an existing community.

Martin.

I recently got 4 baby sids. They are 1/2 inch in length and slender. Mine have no pink in their stomachs and look like tiny versions of adult sids. The lfs had dozens of these babies, and they all looked the same. I would suggest avoiding any new sids if they don't look healthy - or, if you really want them, make sure to put them in a quarentine tank.

Thanks for your help. I went back to check since it's been 2 weeks. the babyish ones are not pink any more but still thin. I decided to skip them. At least I know sids are available here so I'll keep looking for healthier, older ones. After all these years I'm quite good at waiting ( besides now I'm also wanting kubotais & striatas).

Nancy

NancyD wrote:Thanks for your help. I went back to check since it's been 2 weeks. the babyish ones are not pink any more but still thin. I decided to skip them. At least I know sids are available here so I'll keep looking for healthier, older ones. After all these years I'm quite good at waiting ( besides now I'm also wanting kubotais & striatas).

Nancy

Hi. I live in MA as well and I don't think I can remeber ever seeing sids. Where abouts in MA are you....and where abouts did you see the sids?

Thanks

Jon, The sids were at Uncle Ned's on 109 at the Millis/Medway border. I'm in Westborough so my usual lfs is Tropic Isle in Framingham.

Nancy

Uncle Ned's is a nice store. I got most of my gastromyzons there while visiting friends in Uxbridge.

Im in Mass too! Uncle Ned's is great. You say Ned got in some sids? Hmm time to pay the man a visit...lol

Mike