Loaches Online Forum

Yeah I found one and only one fish. Not sure if I should get it. I put it on48 hour hold. The guy at the store said "it came in with somthing, and they weren't really sure what it was, and they couldn't ordder more".

After lots of looking I'm almost sure its either:
Schistura sp. (#4)

Or this one (which may well be the same as above?):
Schistura obeini

If I got him I'd want to put him in the 55 probably. I have a good amount of current in the tank. I have a fluval 404 (which in theory is for a 100gallon tank, but I forget the actualy gallons per hour), and some HOB that is for a 75 gallon tank.

I have 16 tetras (8 serpae and 8 Black skirts), 1 dwarf Gourami of some kind (that my g/f just had to have ), 3 Horsehead Loaches, and 3 YoYo's. Before anybody says anything, I know. "I need more of the loaches I have". But they don't turn up often, and places really don't seem interested in special ordering things around here.

Would I be ok getting this loach, or should I just make my urge to own a slightly oddballish loach species wait?

The horseheads and the gourami's are quite peaceful species. If your oddball loach is "Schistura obeini" the profile says this:
"...are territorial and a group should be housed in an aquarium featuring multiple hiding places and decor designed to break the line of sight between territories. Do not house with shy, delicate species. "

A single specimen with enough room to indulge it's territorial nature may be ok. But...you have some species that will not do well with a Schistura on the rampage.

I understand the drive to want to pick up an unusual specimen, though. It's hard to say no.

Are they really that bad with other Non Schistura species? I'm not positive its an Obeini, but are they all relatively the same behavioral wise

guess I'll probaly just have to pass on this one

Hurricane Charlie wrote:Are they really that bad with other Non Schistura species? I'm not positive its an Obeini, but are they all relatively the same behavioral wise

No, it greatly depends on the species.

For example, S.Mahnerti is a good example of a territorial schistura. A very similarly marked S.Poculi is the opposite: not only they do not fight , they tend to hang together. (Yes, very occasionally, they do chase each other, but nearly any loach does the same.)

Furthermore, even territorial schisturas would not necessarily bother other species.

Three of mine live with smaller Gastros and it is the Gastros that occasionally bother Schisturas, not the other way around.

Do not assume that schisturas are always trouble. The assumption that schisturas cause problems comes from Mahnerti and perhaps Corica which are the more common ones and are indeed more aggressive.

If I were in your place, I'd give it a try.--if your tank is suitable. Air+Current+Temp not too high (mid 70s).

Its definitley not mahnerti or corica

Oh,but I'd like to throw similis out as a possibility also:
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... a+nichlosi

also this one as the tail on the one I saw wasn't as bright read all over as some others, mostly brighter around the top and bottom:
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... a+nichlosi

Hurricane Charlie wrote:Its definitley not mahnerti or corica

Does not help you much. There are a lot of species out there.

You should post a photo, maybe someone can id it better. And you should try asking the store about where they came from, again you may be able to id, or track a few more, if you like it.

Asking about it at the store didn't go over so well. "it came in with somthing else" is basically what the kid said

I might just get it and see what happens. My water is right for it and I'm pretty sure from reading the profiles that it isn't likely to out grow the 55.


Then I can get some pics up sometime and maybe we can figure it out

Hurricane Charlie wrote:Asking about it at the store didn't go over so well. "it came in with somthing else" is basically what the kid said

If you can, find out with what. This may give you an idea of the country it came from.

I might just get it and see what happens. My water is right for it and I'm pretty sure from reading the profiles that it isn't likely to out grow the 55.


Then I can get some pics up sometime and maybe we can figure it out

Good luck! Schisturas are fun, and you can be certain it will not outgrow the tank.

I went ahead and bought the little guy.

Looking forward to the pictures.

Not sure what my G/fs camera will do. I may have to wait and get my good camera from my parents. But I'll try to take some.

It doesn't matter too much about the quality. We simply like to identify loaches.

Congradulations!

IMHO, nothing wrong with using your goldfish camera...Lets see how the fish looks like.

Her card is full and i'm not sure what I won't get in trouble for deleting . Have to wait till tomorrow probably.