is it a catfish? or freshwater eel?

millsy1300 · Post by **millsy1300** » 10 Apr 2007, 21:17

This fish was given to me about 5 years ago when my neighbour moved away. He said it was a South American catfish which I looked up and it looks completely different from the pictures I've seen. This one looks more like an eel, and spends most of its time hiding in the rocks. Does anyone know what species it is? Thanks!

straitjacketstar · Post by **straitjacketstar** » 10 Apr 2007, 21:37

It's a loach.
Dojo or weather loach, not sure which.

http://www.loaches.com

millsy1300 · Post by **millsy1300** » 10 Apr 2007, 22:09

Thanks, I think it's probably a dojo because the weatherred looks to have longer pectoral and dorsal fins.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 10 Apr 2007, 22:36

Odd. I thought Dojo and Weather loach are two common names for one fish, namely Misgurnis anguillicaudatus.
The longer pectorals are a gender matter; these are the males.

Dave Rinaldo · Post by **Dave Rinaldo** » 10 Apr 2007, 22:45

(Marc van Arc beat me to the punch

)
Weather and Dojo loach are the same fish.
Misgurnis angullicaudatus

millsy1300 · Post by **millsy1300** » 10 Apr 2007, 22:55

I was beginning to wonder that because all the info that I found about the two seemed to be the same. I know that one is a male due to the triangular pectoral fins that it can "stand" on. This one never burries itself in the gravel though, supposedly they do that often. Maybe because there's sufficient rocks to hide under.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 10 Apr 2007, 23:12

They do dig into the sand; perhaps your gravel is too "large" or the layer too thin?
Anyway, they're very nice fish with one rather deadly habit: they keep creeping out of my pond. Sometimes I can still rescue them, but more often I'm too late

.

straitjacketstar · Post by **straitjacketstar** » 11 Apr 2007, 06:45

I wasn't sure if there was a common named rserved for only one or the other but what I was getting at was that it was either M. anguillicaudatus or M. mizolepis.
Guess both could be found as one, the other or both.
Anyway, y'all aced the ID.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 11 Apr 2007, 16:27

Actually the true Weather Loach is a European species; Misgurnus fossilis

unfortunately this species is quite rare in many countries or has disappeared all together, because of pollution and/or habitat destruction.
It's on the red list: Misgurnus fossilis IUCN red listed

long ago these were kept in big jars and when the airpressure suddenly dropped, the loaches would get very active; so people could expect a big storm or bad weather coming by watching the fish.
hence "Weather Loach".

Dutch name is "weer aal" wich translates (literally) as "weather eel", not that weird given the fact that the M fossilis is even more stretched (and bigger!) than the Asian Dojo Loach.
they used to be eaten too I think.