Being sold as Chinese Algae Eater - looks like a cat to me..

StuartE · Post by **StuartE** » 16 May 2007, 07:28

Can anyone ID this one? An LFS was shipped these, instead of their normal bunch of Chinese Algae Eaters, which it definitely isn't - I'd like to have a bit of an idea about the size it might reach, and what I can keep it with, but they're absolutely clueless - one staff member told me it's a Cory of some sort... lol

If it's any help, they pretty much constantly fan those big front fins, and the backs a bit too...

I'd say they're about 35mm long atm...

Cheers,
Stuart

Post by **Silurus** » 16 May 2007, 09:08

These are not catfishes, but balitorid loaches (probably Balitora).

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 16 May 2007, 16:28

I've seen very similar fishes also sold as "Homaloptera spp".

might be a case of mislabelling, though.

anyway, Stuart, if you do a google on Balitora or Homaloptera, there's plenty good info on how to keep them.
they're very closely related to Gastromyzon, wich might ring a bell (the "Butterfly Pleco").

Dave Rinaldo · Post by **Dave Rinaldo** » 16 May 2007, 18:58

The folks at Loaches Online will be of help.

StuartE · Post by **StuartE** » 17 May 2007, 01:03

The first one appears to be a Lizard Loach: Homaloptera tweediei, and the others (bulk of whats in the tank there) are Homaloptera yunnanensis - at the price of a CAE, I think I'll take the lot... lol