Loaches Online Forum

hi loachlovers, a friend of mine was asking about a loach ID, got a good pic of it:


was sold as botia striata, but isn't, and I thought I would ask you guys and gals cause ya'll do loach IDs well.

thanks alot.

Looks like a Botia helodes.

helodes does look like a possibility, its a juvy loach too so I'm wondering if the chest/belly spots will show up later if it is helodes?

found this page in the species index:
http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/tiger_botias.html
looks like helodes or hymenophysa maybe?

It's Syncrossus hymenophysa. The "Tiger" Botias are now reclassified as Syncrossus.

Martin.

Yep, I'd agree with S. hymenophysa.

Emma

avant wrote:Looks like a Botia helodes.

ah...wrong ID. thanks for the clarification.

Syncrossus hymenophysa

So I guess it's the spots at the underside that are the differentiating factor?

You'll note if you compare pics that in hymenophysa the stripes in front of the dorsal lean in the opposite direction to those on helodes.

Martin.

Here's a couple of pics for comparison:

Syncrossus hymenophysa.....


Syncrossus helodes (playing with an airstone)....


Emma

Beautiful pictures of beautiful examples Emma.

Anybody who buys those won't get better.

Martin.

Why, thank you, Mr T!

Emma

thanks alot, excellent info as always.

and excellent pics to illustrate as well, what else could ya ask for? loach pics look great Emma, thanks again.



giddy up.

Thanks Martin and Emma for the clarification and the great pictures! I've learnt something new again!