Loaches

[Mike Ophir]

Hi all,

Well I have returned from Uncle Ned's and came back with 6 Vaillantella Maassi and 6 "Orchid Botias." I have been looking for quite some time for the Vaillantella so it was exciting to finally get some! I am still unsure as to the identity of the Orchid Botias. 2 are definetly B. histrionica. However the other 2 look like Bogdan's "rostrata" on this http://www.loaches.com/species-index/bo ... f-rostrata
and another two look like some strange botia thats not histrionica, not rostrata, maybe udomritthiruji?

What do you guys think about that "rostrata" in bogdans photos? Is it really rostrata?

Mike

[Mark in Vancouver]

Congratulations, Mike, on the maassi! I edited your link, but I dare not wade into the rostrata debate. We need photos!

[Mike Ophir]

Thanks Mark! Unfort. my camera is not working as of the moment. They look exactly like the "rostrata" in the link. I mean, inch for inch they are an exact replica of the fish in the photo.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[Emma Turner]

Congratulations, Mike. Would be great if you could borrow a camera if yours is out of action (hint hint ).

Did we ever get to see photos of Bogdan's fish as adults? To me, those fish in the link look like juvenile B. kubotai (when importing large batches, you see all sorts of weird and wonderful patterns).

Emma

[NancyD]

Dang, I've been avoiding Ned's since I have no room for new fish right now & am leaving on vacation soon. I owe congrats on the sewellia fry too. Does he have more v. maassi? Graeme's have always made me want some.

Maybe the threat of telling the "boyhood Mike" stories I heard from your mom will move me uip on the "adopt some sewellia fry" list. ( I went to Mike's loach talk at the BAS this winter & met his family.)

[Mike Ophir]

Haha, maybe, just maybe Nancy!
Yea Ned got in 30 Vaillantella and it seemed like he had plenty more after I took my 6. They are large as well. He also has Crimson Loaches.

Mike

[NancyD]

Oooh, you're a bad influence, Mike. I was sort of near there & resisted the urge so far. Empty Q'tank & husbands restraining influence gone next week. Want to fish-sit over the week of the fourth?

[NancyD]

Went to Ned's today, the v. maassi not looking good, ich or ?. How are your's doing Mike? If there are some left after vacation I'll try then, still quite a few.

I agree about the "orchids" , one looks rostrata, 2 histronica, I don't know.

[Mike Ophir]

Mine are doing significantly better. Treating them with salt and increased temperature (88 degrees F).

Good luck!

Mike

[The.Dark.One]

Congratulations, Mike. Would be great if you could borrow a camera if yours is out of action (hint hint ).

Did we ever get to see photos of Bogdan's fish as adults? To me, those fish in the link look like juvenile B. kubotai (when importing large batches, you see all sorts of weird and wonderful patterns).

Emma

I discussed Bogdan's fish in my article and from memory I thought they were part of the histrionica complex, not the rostrata species complex.

[NancyD]

I'm just back from Ned's the proud owner of 4 v.maassi. Seems they may have a taste for trumpet snails, lots of empties. I hope pond & the ramshorns Dan gave me will satisfy any snail cravings, I haven't seen any mts here for a while.

I have 2 small pangios, kuhli or semicincta, in the Q tank I can't catch easily. I hope they'll be ok with the maassi, maybe show them the house feeding routine.