Large vs small spotted Burmese loaches

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Not too long ago, I learned that the Burmese loach has a large and small spotted morph. This is what each looks like.

Large (images by Emma Turner).


Small (images by Martin Thoene and Seriously Fish respectively).


Anyone familiar with how to distinguish these in the juvenile form before they develop their spots? I'm looking to get only large spotted specimens when I get mine, and don't want to buy more grown loaches because they won't have as long left to live as younger ones, which is why I'm asking.

Only thing I have to go off of so far is the Loaches Online documentation of the Burmese loach pattern by Cybermeez. The documented juveniles in question both morphed into a large spotted pattern, which suggests to me that to get large spotted loaches I should buy juveniles that look as much like Cybermeez' loaches as possible: https://www.loaches.com/articles/botia-kubotai-development-of-markings-during-growth

 

[Fishman Dave]

Would be surprised to find a way to tell as juvenile fish due to the variable nature of this fishes pattern to start with.
cybermeez diid her “study” over just 2 years and only on 2 fish.
This certainly cannot be the basis of evidence for loaches online suggesting two different pattern types.
My thoughts are that the pattern gets smaller with age, but at different rates. So would be good to see pictures of a group of say 20 individuals bought at different places (hopefully from different shipments caught in different regions) after 2 years then all the same fish after 5 years.

 

[Midwater]

I do not think there is a large spotted Burmese. As they mature, their pattern breaks up and the spots get smaller. They seem to look better when small.

My opinion only, they are not quite as good - in pattern, body shape and temperament - as the many varied Thai and Laos loaches.

 

[jjohnwm]

A study done on two individuals? Hmmm...okay...that's really reaching...

Looking at the proportions of the fish in those pics above, it seems pretty apparent that the top two pics display much smaller specimens than the bottom two; just look at the size of the eyes and fins relative to the head/body. The little guys also have markings much bigger in comparison to their body size than the small ones, as is common in many species of fish, reptiles, etc.

Ever see a baby tiger oscar and then compared it to an adult?

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Agreed with all on the sample size not being all that good, now that it's mentioned. I think I neglected to notice it because, small sample or not, it's still the only documentation in pattern change on individuals that I am aware of, and so I didn't pay attention to sample so much as I paid attention to there being the documentation at all.

Concerning the morph theory, Seriously Fish was the one that suggested it, not Loaches Online.

There also seems to be more than one colour form of the species as some shipments of adults contain very dark fish with only small spots on the body, while others are lighter with larger, oval-shaped spots.

Midwater , that's an interesting proposal. I assume you're speaking from firsthand keeping or observing someone else's loaches?
Seriously Fish does say that both large and small spotted fish are adults, but no comments on how old each is relative to the other are given, so their theory may not account for adults changing into small spots as they age further.

Ultimately I don't mind too much if large spots shrink over time, since I still like the way the small spot looks, just less than the large spot.

Thanks everyone, especially for pointing out the sample issue I missed.