Loaches Online Forum

I just couldn't resist this little guy- it is only an inch long, seems to spend a lot of time investigating the walls of the tank.
I can guess it is a loach, but don't know what kind- help? They sold it to me telling me it is a clown loach.
The only black and white loach I could find online is an endangered one that gets to 40 inches long. The one I have is only an inch now, but I simply do not have the resources to care for anything that big. For now it is in a heaily planted community 29 gallon, and I am cycling a 55 so there is some room.







Thank you so much!

--R

It is indeed a Myxocyprinus asiaticus.

See here >> http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Sp ... p?id=12304

Adult specimen >>http://www.aquarticles.com/images/China ... aticus.jpg

Hmm, how on earth would a Petco get ahold of an endangered species that is so completely unsuitable for aquariums??? Grrrr....

Now I have to decide, do I return it to the store and have it be sold as a clown loach to someone else, or do I keep it and give it as good a life as I can? Any ideas on what is the best, most humane thing to do for this little guy?

--R

This thread may be of interest, as it shows the sort of size this fish attains: http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/f ... +asiaticus

I would be inclined to ask around at a few knowledgeable and reputable stores to see if any would be willing to take this fish off your hands. Some stores have contact details of people with XXXL aquaria/indoor fish ponds etc, who may be able to rehome such potential tankbusters.

Emma

Well good news, I suppose, is that they are very slow growers, so I would have some time before having to give it up. Doesn't seem like schooling is necessary, the store had 3 of them and they were nowhere near each other.

I hope he at least eats the snails I have for him while I have him

It just boggles my mind that they would sell such an inappropriate fish!

--R

There are alot of fish at the chain stores that are really unsuitable for 90%+ of the aquariums out there.

Pangias catfish (irridescent sharks)
bala sharks (can work, but usually aren't sold with the understanding they can reach a foot)
channel catfish (I assume they're meant as a pond fish, but they're still a potential 3 footer)

Those are 3 that I see for sale around here that IMO really shouldn't be in (most) home aquarium. There are some who can house them, but not many.

Even the common Clown Loach is questionable in my mind.

How many people can truly give an adult clown loach an appropriate home over the potential life time of a clown loach?

10" and 30 years! thats quite a commitment!

and silver sharks....

we had a medium sized one come in the other day, and my boss took it to a local wildlife park. along with some silver dollars and 3 of the biggest plecs i have ever seen. all out a 4 foot tank.

Radcliffe good luck, and be reassumed you are not the only one to unsuspectingly buy a tankbuster due to poor buying by pet stores

Pacu are certainly on this 'tankbuster'/ "Why, oh why do they sell them" list

There are so many fish sold that are completely unsuitable for what they claim, the Chineese hi-fin banded shark is definately in the top 10 list.

But what the heck are they doing selling them as clown loaches??? They need to fix that, and I would think they should be able to also give you a refund for selling you the wrong fish that they clearly had no idea what they were doing. I mean if you went to a reseraunt and ordered a steak and recieved a burger... or went to the store and bought a bottle of pop but instead it was mislabled bleach... Petstores just seem to get away with way to much.

Hi,
Question for the experts. What kind of temperature can these guys handle? One of these would look very cool in my pond... Space/filtration etc. wouldn't be a problem... but we do get some ice in the winter
which probably means the water gets in the mid-30s F. I should be able keep it at 40 degrees without a problem.... Hmmmmmmm...
Batch

Radcliffe- glad to see you brought your picture over to the experts The back didn't seem arched enough to be Myxocyprinus asiaticus but I guess it is. glad to see you know for sure now.
Carol

qumqats wrote:Even the common Clown Loach is questionable in my mind.

How many people can truly give an adult clown loach an appropriate home over the potential life time of a clown loach?

10" and 30 years! thats quite a commitment!

Oh I know! I have loved clowns for ages but never even looked at them till now when I have the 55 cycling. Still, they like to have friends and I want a lot of plants, so I will likely continue to love them from afar. I spent a good hour last night making a list of all the 4 inch max plecos in case I happen upon one, for much the same reason.

If there is anyone in the general Kansas City US area who has a proper home my little high fin loach could enjoy I would be very happy to give him to you. I don't have a cold water tank, let alone a tank anywhere large enough, but feel bad even thinking about returning him to Petco.

Thank you all so very much for your help! Yes, Butterfly, I did seek out the experts

--R

You do know that these fish are illegal to keep in home aquariums/ponds. The Chinese sucker was once a popular food in China. They travel in groups and migrate up the Yangtze river to spawn. The females lay an enormous amount of eggs (50,000+) which are then guarded by the males. After the completion of the Yangtze river dam, catches declined dramatically and re-establishing populations have not been successful. The Myxocyprinus asiaticus has now become a protected animal.

Just thought i'd inform you guys on this. This must be a difficult situation for you Radcliffe. Sorry i cant help any further.

So how do the stores get them to sell? I saw one in an aquarium store about three months ago for sale and it was marked correctly.
or is it not illegal to sell just to own
Carol