Dwarf Loach ID

[Carla G]

I found this on the net and I am wondering if it is correct or not. The information doesn't match what I see here. Is this perhaps Y. nigrolineata?
I just read Martin's article on the differences.

Do Sids markings disappear as an adult?

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/l ... fLoach.php

To anyone who has kept Sids, are they as playful and personality plus fish like Clowns?

[Diana]

My sids are usually hiding. This seems to not be the norm, however, these guys are supposed to be out and about.

[Carla G]

My sids are usually hiding. This seems to not be the norm, however, these guys are supposed to be out and about.

Seems odd. Do you have any idea why? Are there any larger or aggressive fish in the tank? Do you have dither fish in their tank? Cichlids next door? Or bright lighting? Sparse planting or heavy?

[Graeme Robson]

From the link you supplied, it shows a picture of a Yasuhikotakia nigrolineata with a profile on the Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki. Juvenile Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki have less of a chain pattern on the top half of their body. When they grow and mature they show more chain patterns on them and with some showing horizontal stripes going past the lateral line.

To see more of your Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki, keep them in groups of 10+ It's not a recommendation, it's a Order!!!

[Carla G]

From the link you supplied, it shows a picture of a Yasuhikotakia nigrolineata with a profile on the Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki. Juvenile Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki have less of a chain pattern on the top half of their body. When they grow and mature they show more chain patterns on them and with some showing horizontal stripes going past the lateral line.

That's good. The Sids are so cute. Much nicer than Y. nigrolineata from the pics IMO.

To see more of your Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki, keep them in groups of 10+ It's not a recommendation, it's a Order!!!

Wow, I was thinking 6. I'd better start putting pennies in the piggy bank, then. They cost almost $20 each over here in Oz.

I take it you have Sids. Are they playful? How does their behavior compare to Clown Loaches?

[Graeme Robson]

Yeah, i keep 18 Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki. My group must be around 6yrs old now and with keeping larger groups, these chaps become more visible with confidence in abundance. Generally the Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki is a active and curious loach and normally very entertaining to watch. You wont be let down on eye candy with keeping 10+ of these chaps. The price is also high here for them but they are really worth the money.

You should see Mark (Mad Duff) and his group of 37. Amazing sight to see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTJiKvMtA3U

[Carla G]

Great video! They are a lively lot.

[Keith Wolcott]

Here is how it has worked for me.

I have 12 sids. They are very interesting loaches, but quite different in behavior than my kubotai, Dario, or striata. My sids seem less curious than the others. They spend less time exploring and searching the tank. After a feeding, my kubs, dario, and striata will cover the tank actively searching for any missed food and they always check out the Tunze pumps by swimming right up to them in the current to get any food that had been pulled through and is on the grate. My sids don't do all of this searching and instead hang out in a high current area as a group and wait for food to shoot through with the current. This is fun to watch since they are lightning quick at grabbing food as it goes by. Also, when the other loaches get a piece of food they eat it pretty much where they happen to be, but the sids grab the food and dart off to a nearby hiding spot to eat. I think that since the sids search and explore less, they tend to shoal together more than the others. 6 or 10 of them are often together.

There are clear but subtler differences in behavior of the kubs, dario, and striata.

The dario (I only have one-it was supposed to be a kub) is out and about all of the time, busy, busy, busy.

The kubs are out a lot, but not usually all at once. About 3 of the 6 are out at once and my movement in the room makes them disappear for a short time.

The 12 striata are nearly as busy as the dario and they are not bothered much by my movement in the room. They are the first among the loaches to all food (only the SAE's get to food faster).

Carla- you ask how sids compare to clowns. I had a group of 5 clowns for about 10 years. That was some years ago, but my memory says that clowns are somewhat similar to kubs, dario, and striata, and thus sids are a little different as indicated above.

I recommend them all!!!!!

[Carla G]

Hi Keith

Clown loaches are my favorite fish by far, but my tank is not big enough to house them in the long term. The only loaches available in Australia are Clowns, Khuli's, Yoyo's and Sids. I have never seen a sid except in pictures, but am strongly considering getting some if I cant have the clowns right now. I was hoping for some of the entertaining behavior of the clowns. It sounds like I might get some.

Carla