Loaches Online Forum

With more, clear pictures, does every one thing the original ID of Vanmanenia sp. is correct? Either way, I enjoy watching these beautiful fish.

During an average head count I see 5, then after a few seconds of observation, I will see #6, they aren't hiding just on a side of the rock i cannot see or between a rock foraging for food.

Tom that second pic in the first series is very nice. Think you're getting the hang of this! Way better than I do, anyway.

With more, clear pictures, does every one thing the original ID of Vanmanenia sp. is correct?

The problem is Vanmanenia, Liniparhomaloptera disparis and Glaniopsis multiradiata, all look very similar. Usually, the pics I have seen of Vanmanenia show a broader head than the other two species. This definately has more white on the belly than L. disparis, but is similar to both Vannies and Glaniopsis multiradiata.
Were there any other hillstreams in with these? That could help in determining the exact species.
I am very familiar with L. disparis but have never seen the other two species in the flesh. Martin has had vannies and disparis, and mikev has vannies and I think Grame has had Glaniopsis, so their input would help.

they were the only species in the tank.

I'm leaning toward these being Vanmanenia, myself, but check out the species index and see what you think.
Hopefully, the other guys will be along and put in their two cents worth.

Here's another Vanmanenia pic from another site:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v470/ ... wensis.jpg

Graeme Robson wrote:Could be a Vanmanenia pingchowensis. Either way.......very nice additions!

http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Sp ... p?id=55017

That was my first response.

And this is my Glaniopsis multiradiata Picture below. Both very similar, but like Jim. I'm leaning towards my first guess.

Your fish has more gold coloration than mine I do agree that it looks like a Vanmanenia, I just wanted to make sure so I could officially put it in my fish journal along with requirements and what not.
You guys really know your loaches.

Thanks, I would love to get them to breed, have they been bred yet?

Please also note that there are several Vanmanenia species described out there, and no accessible description of their differences. To make it worse, it remains possible that the two non-Vanmanenia species are also described as Vanmanenia; no one ever went over this cluster carefully, the way Kottelat did for some other clusters.

So Vanmanenia Sp. is going to be the best description you can have for a while, and it is better than what I had a year ago -- it took a while before Jim guessed my original group as Vannies.

The only type of Vannie we may guess about the actual species are the recent imports that come under the "Hainan Lizard Loach" tradename....but then they look quite a lot like the "ordinary" Vannies.

If Jim can find a Vannie somewhere and put it next to his disparis, we may have some answers....

As for breeding: there was some breeding-like activity seen in my original group (but no results), so this may be possible. If you are really interested in trying this, you may want to have a larger group from one source -- Vannies you find next year may turn out to be another species.

hth

They have no more, but more are expected to arrive shortly.

I think that it's quite possible that they could be bred. JIm and I have both bred Liniparhomaloptera disparis disparis. There are certainly similarities in behaviour.

Interesting thing I find with mine is they'll eat a lot, but never get real bellies on themselves, unlike L. disparis which get tubby.

Martin.

Martin, Did you do anything to condition yours for breeding?

While at walmart today I noticed they still had 5 vannies from the shipment mine came from. I bought them all, I now have 11 total.

The kicker is when I got home and looked at my receipt I was charged for a CAE 1.97, thats it only one, I ended up getting 5 vannies for 1.97 plus tax. That was the best deal I've ever seen. At least they have a better chance with me. Maybe with 11 I'll be able to get them to breed. Does anyone have photos of their natural environment? I would love to try and replicate this as closely as possible.

TIA

Tom

Congratulations!!!
You're making me very jealous.

Come to Ohio Jim, It's not all bad, our walmarts sell cheap hillstreams. lol