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They cost about the same as clown loaches (at least in the only store Ive seen them), 69 SEK - close to 5 pounds. Thats a pretty common price for most midsized (= not small tetras) fishes around here.

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So here I am once more...

I just got 3 of these today for $23US. Very small right now, maybe 1.5"

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

grrrrr. Gonna have to contact them, lol. Thanks, I stand corrected. In one section saying they never grow beyond 2 - 2.5 inches and then in the species details listing it as 5". How rude.

Regarding the size of the sids (or whatever they are) read this page as well:
http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/nigrolineata_vs_sidthimunki.html
This author claims that the true sids only grow to 2-2,5 inches. Larger speciments would then be of a different species.

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So here I am once more...

yeah, even though they are known as dwarf loaches, they still get a desent size. I think i heard somewhere they found a wild specimen that was 25cm long or somthing crazy like that. they don't get that big in the aquarium though

Hmm, 5" I guess is what I read. http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/botia_sidthimunki.html

Six inches? Where did you pick that up? Virtually all the references to them in books etc., places sidthimunki at 9 cm absolute tops. Sure you're thinking of the same fish?

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I don't know if I would consider them a " dwarf " species... they do get up to 6" long. Also, a clown loach grows very slowly and I've personally never heard of it getting anywhere even close to its size in the wild in a regular aquarium. Those sids are some nice looking fish though! Thanks for the information.

I think I'll emigrate in that case Robbanp

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Snail Eating Loaches - An Update

I asked a while back if anyone had experience with the Pigmy Chain Loach, Botia sidthimunki, in particular whether or not it was known to eat snails. This was motivated by the desire to seek out a better alternative to the Clown Loach as an ecologically friendly snail terminator, not least because [1] Clown Loaches are only effective at removing typical aquarium snail species as juveniles, their mouthparts being too big for the job once they've grown, and [2] Clown Loaches can grow to be huge (18 inches is a typical figure in the wild, and in Borneo, they're a food fish for humans!) . Clown Loaches should, in reality, be labelled as potential 'tankbusters' compared to the usual small fry such as Neons and Zebra Danios that they are all too often sold alongside, and potential owners should either [1] do their research, or [2] be told that their pretty Clown Loach juvenile will end up growing to be big enough to feed a family of four!

Well, I've recently acquired some back numbers of some recent aquarium magazines (Practical Fishkeeping and Today's Fishkeeper, both published in the UK), all issues dated between November 2003 and June 2004. Therefore, their information should be up to date! And, I've seen at least two references to Botia sidthimunki as a snail terminator par excellence. So, anyone out there looking for a snail remover that won't outgrow the aquarium, with a quoted maximum size of 8cm, and one moreover that is now claimed to be available from captive bred stocks (though only sporadically, and at a price), then the Pigmy Chain Loach should be the first choice. Peaceful but active, with a charming face and attractive body pattern, it may not have the quasi-marine impact of the colourful Clown Loach, but you know it makes much more sense if you're thinking of obtaining a snail eater that will stay small and remain compatible with a wide range of 'typical community' aquarium fishes.

Be warned, however, their sporadic appearance makes them expensive. But, they're worth it. They're proper personality fishes, with a perky disposition, and adaptable to most community aquarium water chemistry parameters (extremes, obviously, to be avoided, and only an idiot would put them in a Rift Lake aquarium full of bad-tempered Mbunas!). Oh, and if you persaude them to spawn in a home breeding aquarium setup, you can make a killing financially, as they are always in demand!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Arer they as expensive in Sweden as they are here in the UK Robbanp? Here in the UK they're 10 each ... eek ...

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I thought a small pic for reference was in order here. This is two of my little "sids".



robbanp attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/376269.jpg"]

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So here I am once more...

Try "shiny" ... keyboards are still made for midgets though

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thats good news!

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So here I am once more...

Library's rebuilt Robbanp ... nice shiy new fast PCs and broadband ... yay!

Hopefully I'll be a bit more regular from now on

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Im sorry I didnt see your question about them. Then I would have told you that my little pack of six sids cleared out the snail invasion in my 140 litre tank in a short week. These snails where pretty small though, some ramshorn like thingy growing to no more than half a centimeter across. They, the dwarf botias that is, are great fish also without snails and can be recomended to anyone who would like an alternative to cories on the bottom of their tank.

PS. Welcome back online Cali, have they finished rebuilding already or is it just a random visit? DS.

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So here I am once more...

You know, i think my Kuhlis of all things are eating my mini-ramshorns... I keep finding empty shells....

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

ive seen some of those at my lfs for 15 good price