Schistura SENSATION!

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:08 pm

These STUNNING 'Crimson Loaches' arrived from India last week and have settled in nicely. The supplier didn't list them with a latin name other than 'Schistura sp'., but he only ships native fish. They appear to have assigned the one species 2 different common names as I ordered them as 'Crimson Loaches' and was invoiced for 'Jasper (Crimson) Loaches'.

I'll warn you now that this thread is very picture-heavy!

Enjoy

:

They have settled in really well, although there is a fair amount of jostling going on with a few nipped fins here and there. The majority of these loaches are no more than 2" TL, with only a couple of exceptions. I know they need fattening up a bit (we're already on to that!) but I do think they are quite a slender species anyway. They sit there perched on the pectoral fins, very goby-like, and sometimes move in a fashion similar to Aborichthys sp.

Here are a couple of short videos I took of them last night:

http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k183/ ... CN8394.flv

http://s88.photobucket.com/albums/k183/ ... CN8395.flv

Emma

LoachOrgy · Post by **LoachOrgy** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:15 pm

wow, wish they had some of those down here!

Graeme Robson · Post by **Graeme Robson** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:31 pm

Absolutely Stunning!! Beautiful!! Amazing!!

I can see a few of these in one of my aquariums, cometh March!

Superb!!

Jim Powers · Post by **Jim Powers** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:41 pm

Amazing fish...and apparently fiesty too.

Mad Duff · Post by **Mad Duff** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:48 pm

Lovely fish and great photos as ever Emma

rich · Post by **rich** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:49 pm

Thank god, you are so far away, I`d empty my purse on your counter.
Let the family eat cake.

Martin Thoene · Post by **Martin Thoene** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:52 pm

Ahbzolootly goor-juzz dahhhling!

Wow....something else eh?

Martin.

Penguin · Post by **Penguin** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:35 pm

Gorgeous!

Barracuda518 · Post by **Barracuda518** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:25 pm

Wow, very colorful

Mark in Vancouver · Post by **Mark in Vancouver** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:33 pm

Great find, Emma. I continue to wonder about the purpose of such gaudy colours in Schisturas that are turning up recently. What is the evolutionary function? Clearly, they want to be seen. Maybe they taste really bad to other fish or birds? So many loaches have very good camouflage, and these guys seem to have a different idea. Maybe there is red algae where they live?

Either way, they're fantastic.

Mike Ophir · Post by **Mike Ophir** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:34 pm

Stunning!!! Emma, that is one amazing group of fish you got there.

Mike

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:25 am

And now for something completely different...!
Astonishing color in those fish.
Do they all have the highly visible dots along the face line/head that can be seen in some of the shots? Any idea of sexual dimorphism as of yet?

helen nightingale · Post by **helen nightingale** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:20 am

Emma put the lippy away!

they are very impressive. i reckon Graeme will be poor again soon

Martin Thoene · Post by **Martin Thoene** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:25 am

That's so funny Helen

I looked at these yesterday and thought, "Looks like Emma's been busy with the lipstick".

Too funny. I'm looking at these pics and the vibe I'm getting in general appearance is that the ones without red in the dorsal may be female. There seems to be a slightly fatter body shape to them and a tendency to less strong red in the body.

Are you seeing any behavioural differences Em?

Martin.

helen nightingale · Post by **helen nightingale** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:30 am

the pink is so vivid it doesnt look real, does it? if i hadnt of seen the other brightly coloured schistura before, i would have beeneven more amazed.

Emma please dont stop taking pictures! you show us some amazing things

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