Loach Help - Schistura Fasciolatus

[fishprotector]

Does anyone know anything about the Schistura Fasciolatus, common name red tailed bumble bee loach. All I can find is that it is a hillstream loach which likes temperate conditions.

 

[Baccus]

I couldn't find any info on S. fasiolatus in particular but I do have some info on the Schistura species in general, if that would help?

 

[fishprotector]

Yes please

 

[fishprotector]

Anyone???

 

[mikev]

Does anyone know anything about the Schistura Fasciolatus, common name red tailed bumble bee loach. All I can find is that it is a hillstream loach which likes temperate conditions.

What specifically do you need to know? What you found is pretty much sufficient....

This is one of the schistura species, there are many (all too many!). As schisturas go, this one is not particularly exceptional, and it does not seem particularly aggressive. They originate from the same South China streams that are inhabited by L.disparis and R.diospilus and were previously imported only as contaminants with these two species; only in the last year they were imported separately. While they probably do not show up in the same streams as P.myersi (listed in your sigs), the conditions are similar, if you can keep pseudogastromyzon, you can keep these schisturas.Subtropical temps, some O2, flow is good, eat pellets/wafers/flake but best to supplement with frozen food.

 

[fishprotector]

I wanted to know which river they came from and how aggressive and territorial they were, but you just answered it all so thank you.

 

[Baccus]

Yes please

Sorry was going to put up the info I had but just haven't been on the computer of much lately.

 

[fishprotector]

No bother. I have decided to get a group of a.normani loaches instead. I have never seen them before and they look gorgeous. I am sure that they will be happy in my river tank.

 

[Biulu]

Nice fish, but read the following on it:

Like many species that naturally inhabit running waters it's intolerant to the accumulation of organic wastes and requires spotless water at all times in order to thrive. It's also essential to provide high levels of dissolved oxygen and water movement so a powerful external filter or two should be installed, and ideally a rivertank manifold constructed to provide unidirectional flow. As stable water conditions and the presence of a biofilm are obligatory for its well-being this fish should never be added to biologically-immature aquaria.

I would not add this species until later...

 

[fishprotector]

Yeh I know I read similar on loaches.com. I was not planning on getting them yet, they are just the next thing on the list.

 

[Baccus]

I've just been reading up on A. normani, they sound like a great fish that will mix well with other hill stream loaches, liking similar condtions of fast water movement, smooth stones and plenty of oxygen and lower temps.

I did read how ever that after one particular study (by Herder and Freyhof 2006) that was carried out on their feeding habits that the adults may need different foods to the juvi's. From the study it appears that the adults mainly specialise in grazing on cyanobacteria therefore it is advisable to to feed them foods that contain spirulina or similar as well as meatier foods such as bloodworms, tuibfex etc.

Also these guys are found in the wild in large groups so a group of them is going to be best, and by having a good sized group of them they should all be less shy.

 

[fishprotector]

Cheers for that

Do you have a link to that study? It sounds like interesting reading. I did not know about the differing feeding habits, but I currently feed this tank bloodworm, brine shrimp and algae wafers enriched with spirulina so it sounds like they would fit in well. I was also planning on getting six. I had another look at them today in the shop (they have been in around 4 weeks now I think) and they seem to be doing fine. It will be June before I get any though.

 

[Baccus]

I'll look for the site and hopefully refind the link.

Heres a link to the site that mentioned the study http/www.seriouslyfish.com/profile.php?genus=Annamia&species=normani&id=1359
Hope it helps, if you do end up getting some keep an eye on them in the shop and if they start going backwards in weight I would try and get them earlier. Apparently like so many loaches of the sucker mouth variety they often end up starving in dealers tanks.

 

[fishprotector]

Ta for that, will have a look when I go in my laptop (on phone at the mo). I can not get them earlier as I am away for six weeks around then sailing a yacht back from st maarteen to the UK. My partner is looking after the tanks, but I dont want her to have to worry about these guys as they will be quite expensive oh and she has a phobia of putting her hands in the tank...

 

[Baccus]

I can understand you not wanting to get them if your not going to be around for a while to watch and get to know them. Best of luck on your trip and hope the fish are all in fine fettle when you do get them.

I love putting my hands in my tanks especially when the cherry shrimp decide to come over and clean my hands, even the guppies come and have a nibble.