Loaches Online Forum

hey I got some new loaches and notreally sure what kind they are.
The store had them lisrted as red tail botia.
any ideas?













I am thinking Burmese border loach????

I know my photos are horrible, but I think you can still see them fairly well.

This is what I think you have:

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/schistura-mahnerti

I have five of them. Great little loaches.

Thanks, Bookpage.

It looks like they are pretty feisty, and I agree that this is probably what they are. How do they get along with the other fish in the tank? Did you go so far as to set up a river tank?
They are in the Qtank now, so i have some time to think about how I will house them. I have been wanting to do a river tank, but I do not have the space for another LARGE tank, but I don't think they NEED it to be terribly large.

Mine are in a 75 gallon. Here is the thread:

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... highlight=

OH MY GOSH!!!
I am So excited!
I wish i were not going out of town next week, or i would get started.

your set up is really lovely. Thanks for directing me toward the thread. I recently saw a 50 long tank that may be in my future. I do not know if it is still available, and will need to modify some as I am not sure how long it is.
If it is not, oh well, I'll jet have to rearrange (again!!) with a different tank.

I hope the loaches will be okay for a while in the Qtank. I have other tanks with more flow for them to hang out in while I work, but your set up is REALLY what I am looking for!!! It is also very clear and easy to follow.
Will post some pics when I get along, but it will be a while since I work a lot of hours and this (fishes) part of my life goes at a snail's pace.

I've got a single one of these, and I am completely unable to get anymore of them here in Australia.

Can anyone suggest some good tankmates for them? I currenlty have him in with some homoloptera smithi and similar 'lizardfish', with lots of cherry shrimp and some of my gastromyzon hillstream loaches.

Should I put him with my kubotai, striata or yoyo loaches?

With their size and behavior in mind i would keep them with the striatas.

Thanks for the input

my striata are really pretty chill, and these guys sound like they will be feisty in adulthood. right now they are getting along well with each other in the 10 gallon tank. They even lay around next to, and on top of each other. Of course, they are young (maybe 2") and may well grow out of that habit as they establish territories.

I have been planning some tank rearrangements, and will end up with a relatively "open" 20 G tank. I could set that up for these five with some extra current. I put a small power head in the 10 G to give a little current and they seem to like that.
I am not sure what would be acceptable dithers for them: I have some raspora het and brilliant raspora, but I think they may not be a good match for the temparment of these fish. I am still thinking and planning. There is not a lot out there to read about these fish, other than the very helpful article on the LOL species index.
I cannot imagine what people did before this website. I guess a LOT of fish died!!!!

Hiya,
I have one of these little fellows and i havent got clue what he is, but what i do know is he isnt a red tail botia lol, he is only small but really fast and looks like he trys cleaning the other fish and they let him do that.
Red tail botias are very simaler to clowns but there bodies are a bluey gray colour with red fins and also i have a lemon tailed one which is really nice to.
Dont suppose you have a skunk loach do you?
Karl

from what I have read about skunks, I certainly hope not!
Nope, I think these guys match up pretty well with the red tailed SAND loach which is different from the red tail botia.

Sure would be nine to have freshwater cleaner fish tough- like a wrasse, or cleaner shrimp from the saltwater world!
Alas, I think I have gotten just very CUTE little feisty sand loaches which LOVE blood worms and need some more thoughtful consideration before I set up their long term home!