Loaches Online Forum

Not wishing to add fuel to any controversial fire, but I thought I would let you all see these pictures I took this morning during feeding time. Best chance to get pictures because they're not worrying about the camera as much as finding food.

Whatever one's feelings about what the history of their genesis might be, I think you have to admit these are rather handsome fish.

Apologies for less than perfect glass. The tank is a bit scratched and has some algae spots.









This is by far the deepest bodied one.....kicking up sand.







Barbels feeling around like legs on a spider.



Interesting shot for comparing head shape with a kubotai.



Body shape is far more Clown-like than that of regular histrionica.



Martin.

They are weird looking fish but stunning all the same

I have reserved some of those hybrid almorhae from Emma and they do look very similar to yours apart from the head shape

Superbly conditioned fish, Mr T. They look like clown loaches in black & white pyjamas.

Emma

They should be well conditioned. They're always first to the food.

Martin.

Very nice looking fish!!

Beautiful fish! Thanks for sharing.

The interesting thing with these guys is the pattern development.

Last year sometime, nicknamed "Curly-Q" because of his barbels.



This March, barbels straightened out.



Now.



Last year sometime.



This March.



Now.



Martin.

Wow

That is quite a change in pattern and body shape.

What size are they now Martin and does their rate of growth seem to be slowing

That pattern is almost rostrata-like in development.

The growth rate has slowed markedly. The biggest one, which isn't pictured in any of the pics above is about 2 and 3/4" SL, the ones in the pics around 2 and 5/8" SL.

They maybe grew about a 1/4" since March, but deepened quite a bit.
Funnily enough, the bigger one is the one that was basically the runt and very ill on and off with a weird sort of slime coat loosening that I could treat but would return. In the end i decided to let nature take its course and i guess the fish's immune system finally won by itself.

Managed to get some pictures of the third one.....



Funky right side pattern.





Hanging out with Curly-Q.



Curly-Q is such a poser.



Martin.

What ever they are and whatever their parentage they are stunning fish

I reckon Botia Chromohistrata