Loaches Online Forum

I just got these half dozen Schistura. Definitely local fish, come from Ratchaburi province about two hundred kilos south of Bangkok. They have got red tails but that does not come out in the pictures. I have been through the species index, and they could be any of half a dozen species to me. Any ideas?

The Schistura robertsi springs to my mind.

We need to see good clear in-tank pics to have a better idea. There's WAY too many species of red-tailed Schistura The location may be of immense help actually.

Martin.

YellowFinned. Did you not see any Schistura balteata from the Ratchaburi province? Some nice looking specimens knocking around lately. Depending on which side of course.

Graeme Robson wrote:The Schistura robertsi springs to my mind.

Could be.

Graeme Robson wrote:YellowFinned. Did you not see any Schistura balteata from the Ratchaburi province?

No. But if I do see any, I will likely get them.

Depending on which side of course.

Which side of what?

Martin Thoene wrote:We need to see good clear in-tank pics to have a better idea. There's WAY too many species of red-tailed Schistura The location may be of immense help actually.

Pics. Dunno if clear. Size, between five and seven cm.








Here with a couple of SAE – both types!




Not related at all, but while I am posting, here are two pictures of my cricket cache.

Wonderful insight Yellowfinned, b t w which crossocheilus are those we get a small glimpse of , in one of the pics ? also are the loaches easy or difficult to catch? also i know there are so many different fish in Thai ! i was just wondering , is the catch i.e. sp/s the same ? or does it vary much , i suppose some of the fish are migratory , just curious as to what its like for a hobbyist dipping a net , from time to time ! must be great , and very interesting .

Parrallel Universe............

http://www.petfrd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21548

Martin.

Martin Thoene wrote:Parrallel Universe............
http://www.petfrd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21548

Almost … Menanensis, from both the species index and the picture on petfrd, has got clear pelvics/pectorals. Mine have got red.

Parallel universes are subtly different.

piggy4 wrote:Wonderful insight Yellowfinned, b t w which crossocheilus are those we get a small glimpse of , in one of the pics ?

Back to our previous thread (http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=4819), one of each.

also are the loaches easy or difficult to catch? also i know there are so many different fish in Thai ! i was just wondering , is the catch i.e. sp/s the same ? or does it vary much , i suppose some of the fish are migratory , just curious as to what its like for a hobbyist dipping a net , from time to time ! must be great , and very interesting .

It is not quite as idyllic as you might imagine, motoring all over the country, stopping at clear mountain streams, dipping in a net, catching exciting and rare fishes.

- Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or convenience to drive off into the mountains. Hopefully that might change in a few years.
- When I find a waterway, which is not difficult as they are everywhere, I cannot just stop and dip a net in. That again is just not convenient or practical.
- By and large, when you do stick a net in a waterway, you pull out … absolutely nothing! It is extremely difficult to catch any small fish, especially loaches from their natural habitat.
- Sometimes, I find boys that are catching fish in gangs with enormous nets, for sale for food. They often get fish that are not suitable for eating and would otherwise be thrown back or away.
- More often I go to the LFS market area in Bangkok, where everything turns up sooner or later. Some of the LFS owners are knowledgeable and helpful.
- Lastly, and maybe most surprising to members of this forum, having traveled almost all the border on all sides (although years ago), much of which is demarked by rivers and mountains, I have never seen a clear stream. Every stretch of water I have ever seen is some degree of murky. That is not to say that there are no clear mountain streams. I just have never seen any.

colorful fish tend to live in murky waters. I think that's why they evolved to be so colorful.

and it's good to see SE Asian crickets... The males are rather aggressive. Don't they fight a lot in that confined space?

YellowFinned wrote:

Martin Thoene wrote:Parrallel Universe............
http://www.petfrd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21548

Almost … Menanensis, from both the species index and the picture on petfrd, has got clear pelvics/pectorals. Mine have got red.

Hi YellowFinned!
I am also wondering if those fish you posted are those that i posted over in petfrd.com. No definitive id on them yet. i'll try to get another set of pictures taken of them for better comparison..

mistergreen wrote: and it's good to see SE Asian crickets... The males are rather aggressive. Don't they fight a lot in that confined space?

Not really. But the big crickets vie for pride of place near the top of the cache where they make their cricketing noises. They might think they are the toughest of the crickets, but they are the easiest for me to reach and feed to the fish.

avant wrote: Hi YellowFinned!
I am also wondering if those fish you posted are those that i posted over in petfrd.com. No definitive id on them yet. i'll try to get another set of pictures taken of them for better comparison..

I dunno Daryl. I would like to know. They might well be Menanensis.