Loaches Online Forum

I might have the opportunity to get some Homoloptera. They are being called "Flying Leopard Plecos," and the picture onsite leaves me unable to identify a particular species.

But I was wondering if they would eat Red Cherry Shrimp. If they would eat only the smallest babies, this would be OK. What I'm curious about is if they would aggressively seek them. It would make the most sense to amalgamate two tanks as opposed to starting another, which is why I ask.

Thanks,
soul-hugger

"Flying Leopard Plecos"! That's a trade name I haven't heard.
Any ideas at all what they are? What looks the most like them?
I imagine they would eat tiny baby shrimp if they find them, but doubt they would bother adults.
I have a huge number of shrimp in my two main hillstream tanks and have not noticed homalopteras or any other hillstreams making a dent in the population. I wish they would.
That being said, I did see some new Homaloptera smithi a couple of days ago, dart as if striking at something and thought they were going after baby shrimp.

Hi, Jim..,

Thanks for the response! I hope this link works.

http://www.littlefishcompany.com/Little ... r.html#137

It is a picture of the "Flying Leopard Pleco."

A good testament as to why we prefer the Latin names:)

If you could ID it, that would be even better. I have always wanted some of these - they seem like such neat fish - but thought I'd probably never find them!

Thanks,
soul-hugger

I just checked the link, and it works, but it will take you to a slideshow. (Sorry it is long) If you are patient, it is near the end. There are some other neat fish on the list though too.

Wow! Those are nice!
I'm not sure what they are. It might help to see more pics.
I'm leaning toward Annamia normani, from what I can see.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/annamia-unknown01
That place certainly has quite an unusual selection of fish.

Or Vanmanenia hainanensis they did come in skinny when I got them.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/at ... 1234402610

Good find,

However, I for one would not buy anything from this trader.

Have you seen how many injected or mutant fish they sell.
I wouldn't want anything to do with that.

Unfortunately, they are sold out anyway:(

I do agree about the dyed and hybrid fish, and would never buy them. The processes they use to dye and tattoo fishes are horrific, and forced hybridization is highly unnatural, often leaving the fish with undesirable traits that must make life for them uncomfortable, to say the least.

With such an endless array of beautiful and fascinating fish to choose from, it is a wonder people feel the desire to alter them in this or other ways. Even the genetic alteration that produces a sort of bioluminescence in Glo-Fish, I find deplorable.

However, I live where the pickings are incredibly slim. The supplier in question deals with the only locally owned fish store left in our city, which I would rather support than the Big Box Chains.

On the upside, I have been able to be part of a tremendous growth and revamping of our Local Aquarium Society. We are promoting an awareness of the processes used to dye and otherwise alter fish, encouraging people not to buy them and to speak out against this cruelty.

Hopefully, along with this, there will come a day where people have more choices available to them so that they can refuse to support this altogether. It's too bad that apart from individual online ordering (which comes with its own brand of risk and hassle -especially for those who don't use credit cards-) lack of choice has to be the number one reason informed hobbyists cannot make a more complete stand on this issue.

soul-hugger