Loaches Online Forum

Just bought two small biotas from LFS.
Can anyone help me ID them? Are they the same species or different?

I don't think it's Botia dario:)

I would say both Botia Dario

I agree with mad duff, definitely Botia dario

Here's my guys... a bigger version.

Look at the color pattern of the tails you will tell the difference.
Also the yellow stripes are wider than B. dario.

tangtangfish,
welcome to LOL. You've definitely got two Botia dario there. B. dario have a very distinctive forehead profile, present in both your fish. Their markings are very variable, but you always get 8 stripes of varying width. Both your fish have the typical baby dario single stripe on each caudal lobe. As the fish mature, one or two more stripes appear.

Look at these more mature fish here, in this recently created profile, and see the differences.

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=2624

One thing we've learned here is that out of the ordinary markings should not be assumed to denote another species.

Martin.

Here's another pic of a juvenile Botia dario for comparison with your fish:



Quite incredible how so many loach species can undergo such transformations in markings as they mature.

Emma

Thank you guys.
Now I see.