Walmart Rescue

[coldmachineUK]

It could be that all three are juvies, yes. Kubotai show very similar markings to rotrata at the juvie stage (and even through to semi-adult stage):

Juvenile kubotai, from loaches online:


But, you need to see if the dark patches develop further. The reason I came to the conclusion that was a rostrata was because there's no apparent continual lateral black marking linking up the twin banding, as you would normally see, and I was assuming your fish was an adult:


I would have to wait and see the markings down the line. If they don't develop this really evident lateral marking there's every chance they're rostrata:


Either way these are both lovely fish! If they turn out to be rostrata, be happy because they're more rare!

[hsherman1986]

so i have heard. I will wait and see what kind of color they develop. I don't think any of them are adults, isn't their max size around 4-5 inches? if so, even the big ones will have 2 inches or so to go. The little guy still has at least 3 inches to go.

I found three more at $9.99 at the store closer by, they are smaller, but still the same loach, so now I have a school of 7...some people are addicted to cories for bottom dwellers, I am a loachaholic...4 of my 9 tanks have loaches

[lovemybarbs]

I have one exactly like it I bought at Petsmart for $20.00.

I always called it an angelicus botia.

[coldmachineUK]

Originally Posted by hsherman1986

I am a loachaholic...4 of my 9 tanks have loaches

They're just the best aren't they?! I love loaches; they used to be my favourite fish but that position is now held by brackish puffers. Still adore them though!

I have two kubotai in one of my smaller community tanks at the moment: they're going to be moved in with my schistura loaches (you should check schistura and the other families out sometime, they are just as much fun and as intelligent if not a little bit more perhaps than the botia -> though less friendly...lol). We'll see how they all like that :S lol! I expect they'll fall out with me for a while! Hehe.

The reason I say they look more like rostrata, lovemybarbs, is for the lateral line marking as mentioned above. If yours are adult grown (4" or so) and haven't got this pattern then you may want to double check your ID via loaches online. My adult kubotai are near identical to the photo I posted of adult kubotai from loaches online, as are a trio kept by a friend who is also a loach fanatic, so I don't think there's much in the way of marking variants...
hsherman1986: at 2" and 1" though you're right, they're definitely juvies!

[hsherman1986]

lol. Yea, I absolutly love all of my loaches. Hubby and I are planning to build a tank for our clowns. It all started with them. I bought one without doing any reasearch. Found out they were schooling fish, so I went back and bought a few more, then found out about their size. Thank goodness they are slow growing fish and I have time lol.

On the new loach subject though, they are already making short work of the MTS in the tank (YES!!). This tank was beginning to become overrun with MTS, but these guys love them. There are half eaten snails all over the place in the tank now. (another reason loaches are in 4 of 9 tanks)

[cappieBridget]

I read this tread yesterday and then went to my wal-mart looking for some loaches and there were 2 poor little guys sitting on the floor of the tank losing color, almost no fins and covered in ich with about 15 pacu and 2 glass catfish. I felt so bad but they were almost goners. I would have bought them and treated them had they had any chance of surviving. They were priced $6.49.

[coldmachineUK]

Loaches, as scaleless fish, are highly succeptible to ich as well. Fish stores really don't treat stock well, in general...
Tbh, its always advised that if you see a sickly fish in the store chances are it wont do well in the move and adaptation to its new home, so its best to leave them. You did the right thing. It's such a shame though, esp. when it comes to loaches like clowns (macracanthus) because I've been hearing lately there's concerns about them being over-farmed at the moment

hsherman, botia love snails, you're right! Hillstreams inc. schistura won't touch them though

[Reefmonkey]

I'll second what coldmachineuk says about botia loaches being really suceptible to ich. Normally I do not have a problem with it, but I remember having a lot of trouble with them, and pictus cats as well. Still, I love the loaches - started with kuhli loaches and then discovered botias, with all their great colors and patterns. Funny, it must be the patterns for coldmachineuk, too, because I also love brackish puffers, probably first attracted to the psychadelic patterns on the F8s.

[coldmachineUK]

Hehe, you're right, it must be a subconscious thought: "must...have...psychadelic...fish" lol!

The problem with loaches, once they have ich, is that they're also really sensitive to aquarium salt which can be used as a tonic for assisting with the treatment. They're also not fussy about high temps either. So, curing it is extremely difficult and usually takes a long period of time. I've only experienced that once, touch wood, and they came through it ok.
I used a product called EsHA Exit, which is an ich treatment specifically for sensitive/scaleless fish. I really recommend it to people. The only downside is it will dye your fingers green if you spill any!!!

I think loaches and puffers are some of the most intelligent of fish I've ever kept. Strongly recommend both (with the precursor research obviously!) to anyone who's not kept either

[hsherman1986]

agreed on the ich thing. I had a bad breakout when i first started up my tank, and it took its toll on my first clown loaches.

So far so good though, just fed everyone, and they are eating like crazy. They still run away when I approach the tank though, i have to sit there for some time before they will come back out so I can take pics lol.