Loaches Online Forum

Congratulations, Mike, you sound so excited! With the 5" specimens at the shop (some of which went home with Mad Duff & Graeme) we have all seen marked sexual dimorphism in that the males have a much larger head with fleshier lips. Females seem to have a more rounded snout. I have seen colourful specimens of both sexes.

Emma

Thanks for the comments guys and gals. I really am enjoying them...they are such an active fish. They are constantly out and about, doing the loachy dance and shoaling around the whole aquarium. They seem quite placid as others had reported and in return, the other loach inhabitants do not seem to be bothering them either. Their color patterning is quite striking. How does their appearance change as they grow? The group I have now are 4 inches long on average....I am really happy that an opportunity came along to get some. Many thanks go to Frank for looking for some for me.

Will keep you updated on how they develop. Is this really the first shipment of them to the USA?

Mike

Mike Ophir wrote:Is this really the first shipment of them to the USA?
Mike

Frank received a shipment in May 2007, about a month after we received the first UK import if I remember rightly. This is only the second batch that has been collected for the aquarium trade though.

Emma

Mike Ophir wrote:Will keep you updated on how they develop. Is this really the first shipment of them to the USA? Mike

Hi Mike. Glad you liked the fish. This is not the first time I've had them. I got them about a year ago, and then they disappeared from the import lists. Now they are back, and at a much more reasonable price.

Yes, indeed. I wonder what could account for the price drop? More available? Easier access to their native habitat?

Mike

Lovely looking fish Mike

Like Emma said the key to sexing them seems to be the shape of the face males have longer faces with bigger lips while females are more rounded, also like Emma I have seen colour variations among my males and females, I have come to the conclusion that when they go paler its their version of greying out in clowns or going totally silver in sids.

I have 4 large Histrionicas in with my emperors and they get on really well and more or less permanently shoal together.

Mike Ophir wrote:Yes, indeed. I wonder what could account for the price drop? More available? Easier access to their native habitat?

Mike

Probably both as easier access would make more available. Or they were not selling many at the old price and decided to lower it.

Just beautiful, Mike!!! Thanks so much for sharing the pics, though I am sure they don't do them full justice. Please keep us updated!


Kate

mike is that overall length as if it is they are starting to send younger fish over.
good looking healthy fish a credit to you and frank your supplier.

mick

Congrats Mike! Great looking fish!

I'm jealous. I really want some Emperors. I'll just have to wait a little longer. Those look gorgeous Mike.

Lovely looking fish!!

Doc wrote:I'm jealous. I really want some Emperors.

That sums it up for me too

mickthefish wrote:mike is that overall length as if it is they are starting to send younger fish over.mick

Hi Mick. The first ones I got were about 7" TL, or perhaps a hair (fin?) longer.

Good point Mick,

They are definately smaller than photos I have seen of large specimens here on the LOL species index page.

Mike

frank I love your website.
I will order from you someday!