Loaches Online Forum

I got these in from India. They came in under the name "crimson loach", and no scientific name other than Schistura sp. Any idea?



This is a pic of the only DOA in the bag, and the only one that showed any red it it at all!

This also came in:

Need to see pics of the live ones Frank.

The other is Somileptis gongota. I think I know someone in White Plains who might want to take a trip to your shop

They're probably one of the most specialized and difficult loach species to keep alive and thriving. I would advise giving them a tank to themselves in the shop, with sand.

http://community.loaches.com/species-in ... es-gongota

Martin.

Martin Thoene wrote:Need to see pics of the live ones Frank.

O.K., once they settle in I'll get a pic.

They're probably one of the most specialized and difficult loach species to keep alive and thriving. I would advise giving them a tank to themselves in the shop, with sand.

They are on a sand bottom. Why are they difficult?

Did you read the profile? It will tell you much of what you need to know.

They're a real specialist type fish.

Martin.

Frank,

If I connect the dots correctly, cybermeez on LOL kept at least one for several years. Perhaps you can try asking her -- the beginning is always the most difficult time?

Did the other interesting things arrive too? (in particular those neomacheilus and Hara species)?

You connect dots well mike. I mailed her to tell her you have them Frank.
She probably knows more about keeping them successfully than just about anybody else.

Martin.

Well, they have settled into the sand quite nicely. I've added some blackworms to the tank (which will burrow into the sand). I am thinking that these fish should not be any more difficult to feed than the sand sifting gobies I used to keep in my marine tank (I may be incorrect about this, of course). Frozen cyclop-eeze and frozen rotifers should serve well as a food for them as both items sink to the bottom, and can be mixed in with the sand.

mikev wrote:Frank, Did the other interesting things arrive too? (in particular those neomacheilus and Hara species)?

Yes, I got two Hara species: H. hara and H. horai, plus the river catfish Akysis prashadi. The Hara are undergoing quarantine right now with enrofloxacin as the catfish from India seem to come down with bacterial infections at the drop of a hat.

Also got the half-banded loach, N. savona, and the polkadotted loach, N. corica (if that is indeed what they are). And more zipper loaches!

Oooohhhh! I want! Where on The Island is your store Frank? I'd love to make the drive out to see your shop and get some of these little critters. I lost my Mr. Moose not long ago after several happy years in my sandy loach tank. I miss my little buddy.

These fish often do poorly for several reasons. They start off with the odds against them because many come form waters contaminated with untreated biological and industrial waste. Add to that the stress of collection and shipping and you get a high mortality rate.

If you can get them past the first month or two without them getting skinny they stand a fairly good chance from that point forward. Though I've lost a few without any outward signs of trouble as long as 3 months after bringing them home. Mooseface don't compete for food well because other fish tend to beat them to any uneaten morsels. Aside from their flight response they are pokey little fish and take their time moving across the sand bed.

Save some for me and I'll come pay you a visit later this week. Just tell me how to get to your shop and I'm there!

Robin

He he! Thought you'd be galloping there like a herd of turtles at the mention of your favourite fish

Martin.

Hooray! Cybermeez takes the bait! Nice to see you, luv!

Here's a pic of the crimson loach, including a closeup of the head.

What a beauty, Frank.

It sure is....
(would be nice to see the closeup of the dorsal one day...)

And I guess nobody knows about their personality or size?

Frank, how large are they now?