Some pics from my parents loach tank

[Botia Robert]

Emma, You have some good sized/mature specimens there. Have you ever tryed to breed Botia other than Clowns? Or experiment with what arrangments might succeed? Some of the specie profiles say that there are reports of Striata and Yo Yo becoming gravid. Does this mean these species would be more willing to breed? Does these species being smaller than clowns allow better conditions to be provided for breeding? Sorry about all the questions but Im just trying to think outside the square and inspire you (and everyone else)!

[Dutch]

I love those pictures, makes me eager to get my tank and start it up.

[Emma Turner]

Thanks Dutch.

Robert - Believe me, if I had the space for another 4ft tank (or larger) I would be very tempted to steal those B. histrionica from my parents tank and attempt some sort of breeding programme. The Alpha is certainly a female - much larger and deeper bodied. The subserviant fish I think are a mixture of both sexes.

If I could ever find the time and get my act together to clear out the junk room which backs on to our kitchen, I have been promised more tanks. It is a task that is not as easy as it sounds as we are the messiest people in the world and the room is jammed packed with stuff, including our old computer and a huge desk and files of stuff that belong goodness knows where. Work is busy and I just haven't found time to do anything about it yet. When I do, I would love to attempt breeding Yoyos or Histies.

Interestingly, this week, on one of my fish suppliers lists, they list a load of different botiid loaches and usually (apart from the Y. sidthimunki which are now all captive bred) it will say 'wild' next to the species. The B. almorhae on this one list say 'bred' instead of wild, so I wonder if something has been happening somewhere.....

Emma

[piggy4]

Hi Emma i'd have to agree with your edit , and say those two Striata's were different , certainly going by the fingerprint method , SO you have more than one corker ha ha .
Emma in my experience Histie's are quite easy to grow on ! i suspect with your skills about one to two years and , hey presto you would have your own group !
what is coming to light is the numerous races of Histrionica , mine are quite different to Micks[thefish's] mine are a butter yellow base colour with five dark bands ! wheras Mick's are whitish base with wavy broken bands , both nice in their own way !
See the work published by the Darkone .

[Slough Shark]

Did you get a full tank shot? What great fish and the shots are splendid, good job!

[Gary Stanton]

It is a task that is not as easy as it sounds as we are the messiest people in the world and the room is jammed packed with stuff, including our old computer and a huge desk and files of stuff that belong goodness knows where.
Emma

I guess that's why I always read your posts, because you're messy and I can relate. When ever my father comes over he starts picking up and I don't even care. It's nice to hear that you have a life and don't have time for neatness. Emma, keep it up, I like you!

[Emma Turner]

Thank you Gary, fellow messy loachaholic! Yes, I can relate to what you said about your father too. Within 5 minutes of a visit from my parents, my mother cannot but help herself get stuck into the tidying up!

Slough Shark - regretably I did not get a decent shot of the whole tank, only what you can see in the vids. I will try and remember next time I pay them a visit.

Emma

[helen nightingale]

Emma thats a great incentive to tidy up. one day you will belive me that i am sure i am messier than you. there are much better things to do, but just think of all those extra species you could keep.

can your parents tell their straiata apart?

[Emma Turner]

can your parents tell their straiata apart?

I don't reckon they could. Although they do like their loaches, they are not hardcore loachaholics like ourselves.

Emma

P.S. There is no way on earth you are messier than I. Why do you think we keep the door shut to that room off of the kitchen when you come round?

[helen nightingale]

it is fairly nerdy to be able to tell striata apart i suppose. your parents may not be true die hard loachaholics, but they look like they are good at keeping loaches, which is the most important thing i was just wondering if they could give us a definative answer.

i will pm you a picture of my desk in a minute