Loaches Online Forum

Saw a tank full of long nose loaches today. From the species index, the nearest I can see is Acantopsis Octoactinotos, they looked almost exactly like the picture, if anything a bit sleeker. The species index has them coming from Indonesia, but the tank full I saw came from Kanchanaburi.

They were a lively bunch of loaches and looked good in a big group. I fancied them, and they were cheap too! But I don't have a spare or suitable tank.

YellowFinned, you need to start taking a little pocket sized camera with you to some of these places!

Emma

I second that!

The motion carries

Emma Turner wrote:YellowFinned, you need to start taking a little pocket sized camera with you to some of these places!

newshound wrote:I second that!

AnneMarie wrote:The motion carries

Do I have a say in any of this?

The LFS market area is amorphous, confused, cramped and in a continuous state of flux. Mixed in are other shops selling cats, dogs, birds, insects, lizards, snakes. Many of the fish shops are kept well, others are appalling. Most of the interesting fish shop owners are well informed. Not just about the fish, but the Cites police. And their shops are only one aspect of their businesses, which include sourcing, breeding, wholesaling and exporting. An awful lot if the fish you get in the UK, US and Canada comes through from here.

And you want me to whip out a camera?

Well much of the time, I probably could, and get away with it too. And I would enjoy posting the pictures too.

However it don’t really work like that. Although much of the market is banal, on any one day I am lucky to see together in a small area a more varied and interesting selection of wildlife than may be accessible to you in most zoos. If any of you want to see, come over. Other fish enthusiasts have.

I think we are all just a little jealous of the neat fish you get to see so often. Everyone was just giving you a little gentle "ribbing" --cause we'd love to be able to see them, too. At least, that's how I took it.

YF
I apologize if I offended you. As loachmom said, I am very jealous unfortunately Thailand is not in my travel budget Although I do plan to go, maybe in my next life.

Are these shops illegal? like a black market pet trade?

AnneMarie wrote:YF
I apologize if I offended you.

You did not, my dear.

mistergreen wrote:Are these shops illegal? like a black market pet trade?

The shops are legal. And so is the trade … mostly.

The world of fish is rather convoluted. They start here – or at least some of them do – they get sold abroad, they are identified and named, but very rarely locally. There is lots of information both locally and abroad about these fish. And much of this information is often repeated without basis and is wrong. So when I see long nose loaches, and know what river they come from, I want know what they are. I would also be pleased if other members were interested, even though I posted this thread ‘cos I wanna know.

The LFS market is interesting, as are the sources of the fish, and will probably deserve its own thread.

YellowFinned wrote:I would also be pleased if other members were interested, even though I posted this thread ‘cos I wanna know.

Other members are very interested, but a picture can speak a thousand words. Many places do not mind photographs being taken, if you ask for permission first.

Emma