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The Loach Forum Archives (1)
Size and some other observations
Posted By: BB <nettech@bellatlantic.net> In Response To: Re: Same page I think ;) (Hans)
Date: Monday, 13 September 1999, at 9:43 p.m.
I personaly feel the b. rostrata will not grow any larger then 4.5 inches (between 11 and 11.5 centimeters) in my aquarium. Dispite a high protien diet and regular water changes in a spacious tank there has been no additional growth in TL. Unlike the fullbodied botia who thicken lateraly and then gain length (seeming to grow in two directions at seperate intravals) these grow more like striata or dario imho. Nice consistant growth in length while the body maintains original proportions to a juvinile. Not they they should be confused with dario or striata but like these two loaches the pattern becomes more distinct or sharper without much deviation from original markings. I'll try to dipict this "|:| :H: |:|" The colon represents holes in the barring "||". The "H" is barring that is connected horizontaly. They are not born with the pretty powder blue in the holes and this seems to develop with time and stick with the fish. (Same blue that can show itself in the neck of an almorhae's "Y" or even between the "Y's".) The barring begins as "||||..||||" where the periods represent base color of the fish with indications below the lateral line where the bars are thicker and seem to stretch towards each other. Some of these did connect forming "H's". The bars themselves also open to allow holes (not previously there) to form. So saying they did not change is not 100% accurate. The thing is I can look at a rostrata and visualize the juvinile. Does this sound crazy:?
Like the rostrata I do not forsee my almorhae growing past 5.5 (6 maximum) inches (about 14 centimeters) in my care. The same high protien diet and water changes exist, but six specimens are in an aquarium where each has about 6.5 gallons (25 liters) to themselves. That accouncts for displacement caused by the substrate, lace rock, and bogwood. More importantly the foot print is roughfly four feet by two feet (120 x 60cm). Each loach only has one square foot of the bottom. Luckly the pecking order is well established and the wood and rooks provide additional dens. Filtration is beyond adequate but I think unless I move them to a bigger tank and out of the 46 euro (bowfront) I am looking at thier maximum size now. I went into much detail before in our previous yoyo/almorhae thread with regards to patterns. All but the lowest rung on the pecking oreder constantly, or at least have the ability to display a reticulated pattern. Not white but a dusky silver with a mass of netwoked lines. Two in particular now have gained size laterly. Some look as if they might squeeze into a humidor while these two look like they swallowed one! Not the big bellies in posts below but just all around thicker. The gain in mass distorts the angle/steepness of the slope of the mouth in relation to the head. Gives the almorhae's head a rounded (striata type) look. The smallest is still sporting his birthday suit so to speak and refuses to join in and change clothes more befitting an adult:) Original pattern "y i Y i y". Wants to be a kid forever;) When I look at these loaches especialy the two largest I would not guess that this pattern is representitve of the same species as the "normal" markings.
If it were not for the picture in the archives submitted by Martin. Max Gibbs Goldfish bowl under yoyo with unusual markings I would be convinced. Looking at that fish leaves me with doubts. Instinct makes me want to say "That's not botia almorhae ...that is a rostrata". Darn that photo:) It is a hybred I tell ya'...yeah that's the ticket:p
Just some thoughts ....too many thoughts with too little information BB
