Van Man Again!

[Martin Thoene]

( Many years ago I was UK Chairman of the National Street Van Association, when Custom Vans were a big thing).

Today though, I became a Vanmanenia owner for the first time, courtesy of Harold.

A trio of Vanmanenia hainenensis:





Going to need some feeding up, but they ate Bloodworm shortly after introduction.











Then he tells me that he has a supplier listing all sorts of mainland Chinese fish, so I've sent him links to Mr Tree's site and various cool Chinese Loaches from LOL. He said they had several Leptobotia species listed.

These Vannies are around 3" long and in good condition. He also got in what might possibly be Barbatula toni.

Martin.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Sensational! More photos - MORE!

[brett_fishman]

neat-o martin!
i like them!

-brett.

[Martin Thoene]

I've already updated the profile with these new pics Mark. I'll take some more once they put on some weight.

Martin.

[mikev]

This is the fish that got me interested in Hillstreams... Gastros and Beaufortias were resistible, but not Vannies...

I'm sure you'll have fun with them.

[Jim Powers]

Congratulations!!! Very cool fish. You do know how envious I am, don't you.

I want to know EVERYTHING about them.
I wonder if they will breed as readily as L. disparis? Lets hope so.

By what name were they listed?

[Martin Thoene]

Not 100% sure Jim, but Harold mentioned Balitora brucei and I said "No way"

I've told him what they are now for sure though.

Martin.

[mikev]

By what name were they listed?

The name I've seen used before was "HK plecos" with "HK Otos" used by the same supplier for Chenis (?!).
(I'm assuming it is the same species I have, it certainly looks this way).

Of course, this fish is most likely not V. hainenensis, there are other, more likely, candidates.

[Mad Duff]

Lovely fish Martin

[Graeme Robson]

Wonderful additions Martin!!


You jammy bugger....hehehe

[Emma Turner]

Beautiful additions, Martin! But they look very similar to the Vietnamese fish HH identified for me a while back as being an Annamia sp.

Emma

[Emma Turner]

I found the original thread for comparison with your latest additions, Martin (had to go in and change the old coppermine url's to the new one though). See what you all think.

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=294

Emma

[Martin Thoene]

Nah....these are clearly different..........





The Annamia species has visible scale keels which these do not. All your pictures show the fish with depressed dorsals and closed tails when at rest. These guys always park with the fins spread.

Martin.

[shari2]

Where are the scale keels again, Martin? Do you have any shots of them?

I was wondering if the differences between Emma's and yours might have something to due with the fact that hers came in severely stressed whereas yours seem to be in much better shape.

Emma, do you have any pics of yours after they'd acclimated and put on weight?

[Martin Thoene]

Emma's fish........



Mine.....see how the fish is much smoother, also less lateraly compressed.



Martin.