Yet another change of plans. I won't be back home until July 26 and won't be able to get this tank set up until July 27, so that's an extra 3-4 days of delay.
On the upside, I went to the pet store and got some pictures.
Here are the Burmese loaches, as promised.
Very healthy and in good shape by the looks of it. I was expecting these to be loaded with all kinds of worms and parasites based on what I read on Loaches Online, but thankfully not.
They're about 7-8cm by the looks of it. Purchasing them at this size (the only size available) has both its ups and downs.
The ups are that they're not too grown (keeping in mind a 13cm adult size) and still ought to have plenty of lifespan left, while also having enough of their adult pattern to be easily distinguishable from the golden zebra loach, often confused with Burmese loaches when juvenile. I had a great fear I would end up getting some (much drabber) golden zebras with my Burmese and it seems that is averted.
The down is that these don't have as much lifespan left as youngsters that could still be confused with golden zebras, minus about 2 years based on the Loaches Online documentation of pattern changing by cybermeez. Overall though, I'd say the ups outweigh this down. I'd rather have what I know are Burmese loaches for 2 less years than end up with what are actually golden zebra loaches after waiting 2 years to know what they are.
I was told by the pet store that these tend to sell out very slowly (in fact, none had been sold by the time I asked), and they had a lot more than 9. So I like the odds that there will still be 9 for me when I can set this tank up.
Finally, some of you might remember a thread I made a little while ago about their pattern morphs:
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/large-vs-small-spotted-burmese-loaches.747436/
The consensus in that thread among the members who commented was that large spotted morphs into small spotted over time, while Seriously Fish believes in them actually being different morphs. Going by a picture by Kamphol Udomritthiruj which I found on Loaches Online today, I'd say Seriously Fish was correct.
Credit: Kamphol Udomritthiruj
www.loaches.com
I think the fact that there is a small spotted specimen significantly smaller (and thereby younger) than a large spotted specimen is a great testament to the morphs being distinct instead of just age-related. And I do find this good news.
After all, while I do still like the small-spotted version, I find the difference between it and the large-spotted version is the difference between good-looking and great-looking. So I really like the possibility of getting specimens that retain large spots throughout their life.
Also got some pictures of the roseline sharks I hope to get. The earlier picture was actually that of significantly larger roseline sharks I have no intention to buy, which I mixed up with the ones that I do want to buy.
This picture does not even do them close to justice, as anyone who has some would agree.
From what I was told, they are not selling out very fast either. On the other hand, I was also told the pet store is finding them so hard to get in nowadays that they may stop carrying them altogether when these sell out. ?
Fingers crossed that they'll still be available when I get back, or at least that I can get some before they become unavailable.
In the event that none at all have been purchased by July 27, I will get all 10 in the photo, even though I originally intended to get 9. Getting 9 in that case would leave a lonely 10th individual to be alone for who knows how long, and the thought of that is enough to compel me to get all 10 so none are left behind.
Also picked up 3 more Odessa barbs today as an 'insurance policy' against some in the original batch of 9 that appear severely underfed and may not make it. I was served by one of the employees I have a pretty good relationship with, and they threw in an extra! So now I have 13 pea-sized babies in the quarantine tank, and if the underfed individuals pull though, I may well end up with 13 instead of 9 like planned.
Overall, that is somewhat of an increase from the originally planned 9 of each. What are everyone's thoughts on 10 roselines and 13 Odessas with the loaches?
Doesn't seem like it would overcrowd/overstock the tank to me, but I just want to be sure.
Finally, for a bonus, the pet store also had some spotted hill trout. Although I won't get any, I did quite like them, having never seen them in the flesh before.
If roseline sharks and Odessa barbs were in some way unsuitable for this setup, I think I'd go with these instead. Maybe with some filament barbs or black ruby barbs too.
