Family of Loaches!
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:22 pm
I re-designed my parents aquarium when I visited them on Wednesday to give the loaches more hiding places and territories. Previously they had a large resin galleon in two parts (was more tasteful than many ornaments, I hasten to add! 
) but two of the larger specimens from the Botia histrionica clan were claiming each half as their own and chasing out any other fish. So although my dad was very attached to his boat, I told him it had to go ( 
) and I instead aquascaped the tank with loads and loads of bogwood pieces and plants (mainly Java fern, with the odd Anubias and Cryptocoryne). I also added a new powerhead to give even more water circulation (the tank is filtered by a large Eheim external anyway), and once I left the tank alone, the loaches came out to play. Their excitement at their new surroundings provided great opportunities for many photographs, some of which I'm sharing here. Enjoy!
I was very pleased to finally get a shot of one of their beautiful, but elusive, Botia striata:
Doing the Loachy Dance:
Excitedly exploring together:
I have been trying for months to photograph this B. histrionica with odd markings. It took a while (as you'll see) but I eventually managed to capture this flexible character:
Here it is!
Another rare shot showing one of the B. striata:
And last up, a close-up of one of the B. histrionica:
I hope you liked them. If I had a spare tank at home, I'd be very tempted to drive down to Slough and steal these from my parents aquarium when they weren't in!
Emma
) but two of the larger specimens from the Botia histrionica clan were claiming each half as their own and chasing out any other fish. So although my dad was very attached to his boat, I told him it had to go ( ) and I instead aquascaped the tank with loads and loads of bogwood pieces and plants (mainly Java fern, with the odd Anubias and Cryptocoryne). I also added a new powerhead to give even more water circulation (the tank is filtered by a large Eheim external anyway), and once I left the tank alone, the loaches came out to play. Their excitement at their new surroundings provided great opportunities for many photographs, some of which I'm sharing here. Enjoy!I was very pleased to finally get a shot of one of their beautiful, but elusive, Botia striata:
Doing the Loachy Dance:
Excitedly exploring together:
I have been trying for months to photograph this B. histrionica with odd markings. It took a while (as you'll see) but I eventually managed to capture this flexible character:
Here it is!
Another rare shot showing one of the B. striata:
And last up, a close-up of one of the B. histrionica:
I hope you liked them. If I had a spare tank at home, I'd be very tempted to drive down to Slough and steal these from my parents aquarium when they weren't in!
Emma
Some say it looks like they're wearing lipstick! 
