Are these polka dot loaches?

[sonycrr]

i bought 2 loaches that were labeled polka dot loaches. then a week later the store labels them as banded loaches. i already have polka dot loaches in my tank and the 2 new ones are more plump and seem to have a different head shape. the 2 new loaches are bigger than the polka dot loaches in my tank and have not started to develop the polka dot pattern yet. do you think they are polka dot loaches? please look at the ones that have no dots.

thanks!

[Graeme Robson]

Definitely not a Botia kubotai. However, they do remind me of a juvenile Botia udomritthiruji with them larger black markings compared with a Botia histrionica.

[sonycrr]

thanks for the help

ughhhh i really wanted more polka dot loaches

[plaalye]

They look like my young b. histrionica

[Botia Robert]

You can try asking your supplier where they came from.

To me they look like my B. Histrionica, B. Kubotai.

[Diana]

The ones that are spotted and banded in alternating patterns are Kubotai. The spot and band pattern can be different sizes, but I have never seen them with zero spots. Just big spots or little spots.
The banded (without spots) do not look like Kubotai, to me.

Another example of using common names.

[plaalye]

Maybe I misunderstood your question? I thought you were asking about the two in the last pic, which I would say are b. histrionica. I agree that in the pic with four, there are two b. histrionica & two b. kubotai

[sonycrr]

thanks for all the help
yeah i was asking about the 2 that has no spots.
i took a pic with the ones with spots for comparison

[sonycrr]

does any have exp with the B. Histrionica? i read on this site that they should be in groups of at least 3-5. any negative things about them?

i only have 2 but they are gettng along very well with my 3 B. Kubotai.


when i first saw the B. Histrionica at the lfs, they were labeled as polka dot loaches and i already can tell they looked diiferent right away but they had the same color and stripe pattern as a juvenile Kubotai so i still bought them. i thought they were given some kind of hormone food to make them grow fast =/

im liking the Histrionica more and more. they are very active in the tank. they are in a 46g now.i am planning to buy a 125g+ tank but i dont know when. just waiting for a good deal on a used one.

[plaalye]

I have both and love them both! The histies grow much faster, and mine are a bit more gentle than the kubotai. Mine looked like yours when I got them, even smaller, but as they are drowing their stripes are starting to break up.

When you get your bigger tank get a bunch more of each!

[sonycrr]

wow the pattern looks nice
thanks for sharing that

i am worried that when i do get a bigger tank i wont be able to find any more Histrionica. i have never seen them b 4. it is kind of hard to get polka dot loaches as well. maybe i should get one more now?

how long does it take the Histrionica to reach max size and how about the kubotai? im hoping the dont grow that fast.

[Emma Turner]

And for comparison, a pic of Botia udomritthiruji juveniles:



Emma

[sonycrr]

wow those really look like the ones I have.
Is there any real way to know or do I have to wait till they mature a bit to know?

[sonycrr]

i was reading online about the udomritthiruji. It says they are expensive and I got my two loaches for 8$ each. So would that be a good indication they are not udomritthiruji?

[plaalye]

Showing off Emma ! Lovely fish!! I didn't realize they were so much alike.