Zipper loaches

[bslindgren]

The local LFS has some of these in stock (some decent size [1+" or so] the rest tiny) I looked at the description, but it doesn't say much about how they are with tank mates. Based on the photos, I assume they are schooling fish. Is that correct? Any other opinions about these?

[kimura]

an amazing loach. they are active and full of character. they are pretty social so i'd say 4+ would be ideal. they really like a sand substrate too. i had some breed a few years ago and the babies were soo cute. i've heard there are 2 very similar species of these loach. one gets slightly bigger than the other but they look almost identical. maybe someone can clairfy that.......

[mikev]

As Kimura said...

Very peaceful and still very entertaining.

In my tank they ignore most of the other loaches (they always check new arrivals), but they have some affinity with the yoyo's: I see occasionally a yoyo being shadowed by 2-3 zippers....this is pretty funny (yoyo's are larger and more massive...)

Don't worry too much about them being small, if they appear healthy: they grow pretty fast and this is also interesting to watch.

And I'd not call them really schooling, but surely social.

[Graeme Robson]

Agreed to all of the above!

[mikev]

i've heard there are 2 very similar species of these loach. one gets slightly bigger than the other but they look almost identical. maybe someone can clairfy that.......

I assume this is about Acanthocobitis botia vs Acanthocobitis urophthalmus, see Fishbase (LOL has no page for the 2nd species yet).

Since Zipper is present across a very wide area, there may be more species...we simply don't know. It is not clear if anyone ever looked at a Chinese Zipper, for example.

Correction to LOL entry on A.Botia suggested:

Distribution: Widespread - India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Butan,Thailand, Burma and Myanmar.

Burma and Myanmar are the same country. The species is present in Yunnan, China as well (Fishbase).

hth

[Graeme Robson]

Many years ago, i did find a Acanthocobitis urophthalmus. They are basically a dwarf version of a Acanthocobitis botia. It never grew more than 2 inches in length, sadly it passed away for no visible reason. If i had a picture, then for sure the Acanthocobitis urophthalmus would be in the loach species index.

[Emma Turner]

My Sri Lankan supplier has been listing A. urophthalmus for a long time, but despite frequent requests, has never provided me with a picture (which I want before placing an order). What are the key characteristics for telling the 2 species apart, aside from location?

Emma

[Graeme Robson]

Location, size and vertical lines that go past the lateral line on some. No fin ray counts known unless they are in the book called The Freshwater Fishes of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka. Jayaram, K.C. (1981)