Help with ID

[MattW]

I quickly popped into a local Maidenhead this morning and found they had just received a delivery, so they were very busy dealing with that and customers.
I noticed this fish that didn't have a price/info tag. I couldn't stay long, so I didn't get to ask about them.

Any ideas what it is?

 

[MattW]

@Magnum Man Would you reckon its a smaller loach species?

 

[Magnum Man]

I'm not very good at properly identifying fish, but it looks exactly like my biggest loach, mine measures pretty close to 6 inches long... it keeps pretty much to it's self, not bothering even the smallest loaches, but it battles with my kisser gourami, over algae cookies... no problems ever, except at feeding time, and then they really go at it... not to the point of injury, but epic battles over the cookies...

 

[Magnum Man]

I suspect it's one of a few...

Homalopteroides smithi​

the nose looks too long for this one... some info here...

Green Lizard Loach (Homalopteroides cf. smithi)

The Green Lizard Loach (Homalopteroides cf. smithi) is a beautifully patterned fish native to the Mekong River system across Southeast Asia. They are also known as the Gecko Loach or the Alligator Hillstream Loach. Similar to other hillstream species, the Green Lizard Loach requires clean and...

www.aqua-imports.com

Vanmanenia sp. 'Vietnam​

this one isn't as good a picture...

https://dansfish.com/product.detail/6010/Loaches-Loaches-Vietnamese-Lizard-Hillstream-Loach-(Vanmanenia-sp.-'Vietnam')

there is a 3rd I suspect, been looking for it on line... I have them all listed on my computer, but O'm on my phone right now...

 

[MattW]

The ones in the shop were small. I'm guessing because they were on the delivery, just about under 2 inches.

I was looking too, and the closest thing I found was this - Aquatic Arts

The one problem with loaches is that there are so many varieties

 

[Magnum Man]

that was the 3rd one I was looking for, and suspect that is what it is... good find

 

[Magnum Man]

note the size difference between what that link says, and the size of mine, I've always found the unusual hillstream's difficult, as many don't list sizes .. I have several, that I've had for years, and they barely break a couple cm, and then this one, that's near twice the size, it's "supposed" to get... fortunately they have a tendency to mostly be small, and stay that way... but most all are peaceful

 

[MattW]

I need to do a lot more reading on hillstream loaches in general. I do believe I have the right environment for them, especially if I add back the powerhead. The only issue is tank size.. (23gal).

The site I linked recommends a group. Would 4 work in a 23gal? I do prefer my tanks understocked, but I reckon I could make an overstocked tank work with all the plants and increased WC's. Of course I need to phone the shop itself to confirm that's what they are, and see if they are even in stock when I'm next available to visit in a week or two

The thing that has pulled me to these fish is their Myanmar connection, since the other fish I have hail from there as well.