Homaloptera zollingeri

[Graeme Robson]

I've found a few Homaloptera zollingeri? in with a batch of Homaloptera smithi. Just a quick question on their 'adult' size's. How large? These chaps are 4cm TL.

*edit* 3cm TL

[Jim Powers]

I don't think what you have there is zollingeri, Graeme.
Check the tail fin and see if it has a black lower lobe. That is exclusive to zollingeri.
What you have there is, in my opinion, either a H. yunnanensis
http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/ho ... ensis.html
or one of the Sinohomalopteras.
Whatever the case, it looks to be the same species that I picked up about three years ago. They often come in with shipments of smithi.
Mine are about 2.5-3" (7-7.5cm) and are a better fish to keep than zollingeri in that they don't generally hide as much. Their spot pattern tends to morph as they mature too.

[Jim Powers]

Here is a link to pic of a Sinohomaloptera species that could be your fish too.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v470/ ... imgAnch186

This reminds me a bit of the Sinobotia pulchra/Leptobotia gullinensis debate.

[Emma Turner]

Nice loach! It's looks a lot 'greener' than the H. zollingeri's I've had in at the shop before though:


It even looks fairly similar to our 'mystery loaches' don't you think, Jim?


Emma

[Graeme Robson]

Cheers Jim and Emma. I must admit, these chaps have only been in my care for 6 hours. A good friend kept these separate for me in Quarantine. I'll capture some pictures soon and see how they settle in. Homaloptera yunnanensis does look favorite, at the moment. But we'll see.

[Jim Powers]

Yes, Emma, that mystery loach does look something like Graeme's fish except it doesn't have markings on its sides. It also looks a bit like that large Annamia that you recently lost.That zollingeri in your pic is much lighter than the one I have had for about 4 years.
(here's an old, poor quality pic )
http://www.bobd.lunarpages.com/loaches/jim043.html
Mine is about 3.5" long and almost black with light orange between the dorsal saddles. There seems to be a bit of variation in that species.

[Graeme Robson]

Jim, You should share more pictures. Thats a superb looking specimen.

Another bad picture from me....


These are still juvenile chaps.

[Jim Powers]

Thanks, Graeme.
I have some pics, but most are locked up in the old computer and I have yet to get them out or update my camera.
That pic looks exactly like the fish I have. As they get older, the spot pattern will get more intricate as the gaps between spots get smaller.
They are rather easy to keep, just give them bloodworms and brine shrimp. I have seen one of mine nibble on pellets some, too.
As with many homalopteras, they tend to be a bit shy.But, they are not as shy as zollingeri which seem to be nocturnal.

[Emma Turner]

I agree, we want to see more of your pics, Jim! I see what you mean about the markings along the flanks of the fish - definitely not present in the 'mystery' specimen.

The zollingeri's certainly vary quite considerably - here's one of the almost jet black ones that came in with the same batch as the one I posted earlier:



Emma

[Graeme Robson]

Thats one good looking H zollingeri, Emma.

I still cant get a decent picture, so i'll just let them settle.

[Jim Powers]

That is a VERY dark specimen, Emma, much more so that mine. Very interesting looking too. Kind of has an alligator-like quality to it.
Notice the large, opaque eyes similar to the North American walleye and its European cousin the zander. That would indicate why these fish hide all the time and seem to be nocturnal or prefer low light situations. Have you noticed that behaviour in your fish?

As for the pics, thanks again, but my pics do not compare with yours, Graeme's and of course Martin's. But, this makes me want to get them out of the old computer, dust them off and see what I have in there.

[Jim Powers]

Graeme, you might be lucky to get ANY pics of these guys if they are anything like mine. They may be resting on a rock in front of the tank, but the minute I get the camera out, off they go.
By the way, when you get them fattened up, they are an even more attractive fish.

[Graeme Robson]

Graeme, you might be lucky to get ANY pics of these guys if they are anything like mine. They may be resting on a rock in front of the tank, but the minute I get the camera out, off they go.
By the way, when you get them fattened up, they are an even more attractive fish.

I couldn't agree with you more, Jim.