Loaches Online Forum

I've been keeping Gastromyzon ctenocephalus and scitulus for quite a while now. They're pretty camera shy, so getting decent shots isn't easy. My tank rearrangement has opened up some photo opportunities and today i got these pics of this one male who was busy going about his business of grazing or chasing everything else around.

It wasn't until I downloaded the pictures that I saw that this fish has similar pectoral fin "fences" as male Sewellia lineolata get when sexually mature. Not quite as noticeable, but definitely there.















Martin.

Very interesting, Martin. I guess we should be looking at other hillstreams to see if they have similar "fences".

This fish is a lot smaller than the Sewellia, so seeing it properly with the naked eye isn't obviously as easy.....but I wasn't looking for that feature. I'll be looking closer next time

Got this nice G. stellatus pic today as well..........



Martin.

That's very interesting. I wonder at what age the males develop these fences? I'll be keeping a close eye on the Sewellia babies to see when they start to show (that is, if there are any males in the 2 lots of fry ).

Emma

Oh right! Mature males in breeding conditions then!

Superb!

Very, very interesting.

What about Beaufortia's ?
(It actually would be quite interesting if it appears that Sewillia is closer related to Gastros than to Beaufortia)