Need Id On These Loaches

[fishnovice]

I've just adopted 4 loaches which were meant to be dwarf chain but clearly aren't. They range in sie from 4cm to 12cm and not sure if that't an adult. No camera but will attempt a detailed description:
1. Shape similar to CAE not eel-like like weatherloach
2. Have pleco type sucker mouths and are constantly cleaning glass and bogwood of algae -haven't stopped since they arrived 4 hours ago.No barbels visible
3. White bellies, light grey bodies with hint of orange. Distinctive horizontal line from gills to tail with vertical lines all along it -looks like a zip!
4. Bottom dwellers but active in daylight, not timid

 

[Carlovel1]

I dont think they are loaches, I think they are from the Garra family. Maybe they are Panda Garra?

 

[fishnovice]

I dont think they are loaches, I think they are from the Garra family. Maybe they are Panda Garra?

Just checked out panda garra -definitely nothing like them. mine have a long slim body shape very similar to CAE not garra or clown loach.Apart from the tiny vertical lines intersecting the horiontal they look like CAE, beginning to worry I may have unknowingly adopted 4 CAE. Help!!!

 

[Carlovel1]

Whoops. Missed out no.3 in your list. Yeah you might have CAE, a pic would help

 

[jacko32]

sounds like siamese algea eater not a CAE but a SAE

 

[Carlovel1]

SAE dont have pleco sucker mouths

 

[jacko32]

do they look like this OP ?

http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/algae-control/siamese.php
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[Carlovel1]

Or like this?

 

[Luzi]

Sounds like CAEs... What fish are in with them? Tank size?

Google images of CAEs, SAEs and flying foxes

I have 2 CAEs at a year old in a 64L, they haven't outgrown it yet and haven't attacked any other fish. CAEs don't necessarily mean you're doomed

 

[Carlovel1]

CAE DO mean you're doomed. They will grow up into aggressive monsters. In your case Luzi, they've not reached that stage but they will. Unless you have a massive tank with robust tankmates, you will have a tough time shifting them. Fish shops often won't take them back unless they are very small. Just my opinion

 

[Luzi]

They will end up elswhere, and i'll miss the guys I think they'll probably stay for another year, then i'll rehome them. LFS's cichlid tank is their next stop

 

[fishnovice]

do they look like this OP ?

http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/algae-control/siamese.php
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No the black horizontal line is fainter with much shorter lines off it at right angles creating a sort of zip or half a railtrack effect. Black spot just behind gills above eyes. Body has an orange tinge and when you look at them from above they are kind of spotted with a row of dots along the side just below the spine.
Googled both CAE and SAE and thye don't look like either, hence my question. DEfinitely have sucker mouths and are constantly eating algae off glass (that's how I know about their mouths) wood etc.

Is there any such thing as a large non dwarf chain loach?

 

[england]

horse faced loach / dojo loach / Neonoemacheilus labeosus / stone loach / CheckerBoard Sand Loach

 

[england]

PS..
There's nothing wrong with cae, providing there kept in the right conditions, i also had a full grown cae, he was stunning and got along just fine with my cichlids and tinfoils / bala sharks, i would deffinatley have them again

 

[fishnovice]

horse faced loach / dojo loach / Neonoemacheilus labeosus / stone loach / CheckerBoard Sand Loach

Thanks for your suggestions Nelly. The closest is the checkerboard loach but not an exact match. To be honest mine all look like a cross between CAE andcheckerboard. One ossibly significant ID mark -dark spothole?) just above line behind gill cover. I know CAE have something like that but checkerboards don't appear to. Does this mean mine are CAE?
What a nightmare if thye are. CIchlid tank already has 2 fast growing aggressive syno so no room there for more large aggressive troublemakers, certainly not 4 of them. No space to set up another species tank for CAE as I already have 8 tanks including turtles..and they can't go in with livebearers, angels, goldfish or endler fry.
What is the best option for responsibly rehoming CAE?