Help with mistaken ID's

[UncaToddly]

Hi there. I have recently started to become a fan of the hillstream loaches and have run into a couple ads on Aquabid that I am trying to clear up. Both are ads from Tropical Fish Distributors (who I have bought L168 Butterfly Plecos from in the past) . The first one I wrote to them as they had it listed in the Pleco area and it is clearly some species of hillstream loach. They wrote me back and thanked me and moved the ad but kept the name (Pleco, Butterfly Stingray - ugg!). I am THINKING it is maybe Sinogastromyzon puliensis maybe?



The second I noticed today while looking at the hillstream loaches listed and either I am really clueless or not all hillstream loaches have the same basic bodystyle. THey have this one listed simply as a hillstream loach but it looks closer to a yoyou loach or something. Pretty fish but am I wrong in thinking it ISN'T a hillstream loach?



Thanks!

Todd

[Diana]

Hi Todd, I am not sure about the ID, but there is a very good picture key to ID here at Loaches. Lets see if I can link it here for you.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/pi ... e-pictures

Hope this helps!

And yes, not all Hillstream Loaches have the body like the first picture you linked. Some are more like the second picture, but even these sort usually have fins angled to help them stay low, on the bottom of the stream. They are streamlined so the fast water flow will press them deeper onto the rocks, not blow them away.

[UncaToddly]

Thanks. Believe me, I messed with the picture species index for a long time as well as simply going through pictures in the species list

I did see some that made me think of hillstream loaches but the fins on those are definately more spread out like those of the Sewellia type of hillstreams.

Closest one I could come was maybe something like:

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/ne ... s-labeosus

Thanks for the help!

Todd

[ch.koenig]

hi todd
the first is beaufortia kweichowensis.
I'am not so sure about the second.
cheers charles