Loaches Online Forum

Yesterday I received a batch of stunningly beautiful hillstream loaches, supposedly a Balitora species from Laos. But I am sure these are actually a Sewellia species that has never been exported before now. There are 3 described species of Sewellia from Laos, and going by the preserved specimen shown in Kottelat's Fishes of Laos book, I'd say they resemble S. diardi the most. They are very very shy (although this could be because they are newly imported) and despite having plenty of cover in the tank, they all seem to want to cling onto and around the powerhead. I had to get my mitts in the tank to get them to come nearer to the front for photos, and some did lose quite a bit of their colour because of that. Any lightness/patchiness is loss of colour, and nothing more.

So without further ado, here they are:























I only got 15 in, and wish I'd ordered more now! I have 5 reserved for myself already (I just had to).

Emma

Wow, I think they should be called "snake skin loaches". Gorgeous!

Those are lovely

Good pictures too, for a new shy bunch you caught lots of valuable detail.

I also thought 'snakeskin'.
Why can't my local stores get in such nice fish?!?

That blush of yellow on the fins is really nice, too.

That's quite a dorsal fin. Lovely!!

[quote="Diana"]
Why can't my local stores get in such nice fish?!?

I say this to myself everytime Emma posts pics of her fish!

Oooh... those are some lovely fish. You see Emma you have now managed to put me in an indecision loop, i was dead set on the Crossostoma lacustre but these guys are really something...

Now please excuse me as i go and see to the bruise on my jaw from having it drop so fast.

Oh thats how an offspring of Sewellia and G. ocellatus would look like

Drool!!!!

So only 10 left with Les and Mark ready to start a bidding war! As much as i would love to.... i'll just sit back and enjoy the pictures.

Very nice

I would happily take the other 10 depending on price and if Les doesnt mind, could you pm me a price Emma

Wow, beauties
It,s a shame the lfs'in my area sell just Beaufortia's
Can,t even find a S. Lineolata round here

Hopefully these are the ones Neil is getting in, he did say they had caught some Sinigastromyzon from Laos.
if not them it could be something just as special.
beautiful fish Em & pics but you know that anyway.

mick

i wish i hadnt looked. they are beauties

Those are amazing!!!!!

WoW :shock:
Those are some stunning fish Emma. Hope they aren't as shy as the Wui's though.

Wow!! They are stunning Emma