Loaches Online Forum

Here's a couple of pictures i captured last night. Only after 2 two hours worth of trying!

Very nice pic Graeme!!
Its not an easy job to take pictures of this hyper-active species.

Can you tell me what is the size of fish inside pics? I can see the dorsal fin have "full" coloration, mine only have coloration on rays of dorsal fin, but I suspect if the color will spread as the fish growth ?? Or its a regional variations??

Btw, from some discussion in forums, papers, book, and confirmation from the expert (Tan HH), its quite clear if the fish with light spots on dorsal part of body and blueish white caudal fin (as your pics) is G. ctenocephalus.
Its been said if G. punctulatus have yellow fins (you can found in new paper about 3 Gastromyzon from Brunei) also its have a truncate snout (at adults).

But I still curious myself to see the live specimen of this G. punctulatus. Must be quite different with G. ctenocephalus beside its share characteristic, lights spot on dark background.

Nice job, Graeme!
I see patience pays off.

Fabulous....the 2 hours was well worth it

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
Beautiful pics of beautiful fish. You've certainly mastered that camera in no time!

Emma

ih there im new in here just looked at those pics those fish look amazing are they compatible with clowns and yo yo,s

From Tyson 1982 here are counts for ctenocephalus, punctulatus, and ridens:

Lateral line series: Cte 50-60, Punc 58-59, Rid 56-78
Predorsal scales: Cte 32-36, Punc 40-42, Rid 32-52
Scale rows above lateral series: Cte 15-20, Punc 21-22, Rid 15-26
Pectoral fin rays: Cte 23-25, Punc 24-26, Rid 25-30

May someone try counting these counts on those fishes in pics?

Thanks.

All of a sudden it's Gastromyzon overload!! I've been aware of the changes but like most, it's good to know what is actually out there.

Hendra, They are 2 inches TL. Or maybe slightly over 2 inches.

Thanks Graeme

The biggest of this spotty in my tank only have 4 cm TL, the others around 3 cm, some have blackish color and the other (dark) brown(ish) color with cream spots and blotches, hmm... perhaps the new paper have answer about the questions.

Hopefully!

Graeme, your fish are Gastromyzon ctenocephalus. Quick ID is (are) the iridescenct blue markings in the dorsal.

The similar Gastromyzon scitulus does not have the blue in the dorsal and has a more intricate pattern of black in the caudal.

scitulus at top, ctenocephalus at bottom..........



Martin.

Cheers for the conformation. Martin.

Great looking fish. Great pics.

Martin Thoene wrote:Graeme, your fish are Gastromyzon ctenocephalus. Quick ID is (are) the iridescenct blue markings in the dorsal.

The similar Gastromyzon scitulus does not have the blue in the dorsal and has a more intricate pattern of black in the caudal.

scitulus at top, ctenocephalus at bottom..........



Martin.

There is a problem to this (both?) species. I have 12 dotty borneo suckers (which I thought as G. ctenocephalus) 9 have little size about 3 cm TL, 2 about 3,5 cm TL, and the biggest one is about 4 cm TL.

All of them not have the blue streak spots in dorsal fin, except the biggest one have 3 blue spot in about half back part of its dorsal fin, I suspect if the spots will more spreading as its growth.

Martin, can you inform the size of the fishes in your picture?
I guess the fish with colorless membrane of dorsal fin, have smaller size

Hendra, I have a mix of sizes in both species. They range from around 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" in standard length.

Martin.