The type locality originally consisted of a shallow (0.5 – 1.5 m deep) stream with a substrate of rocks and boulders and flow varying from ‘moderate to swift’.

When the holotype was collected there in 1980 sympatric species included Acanthocobitis zonalternans, Puntius orphoides, Pethia ticto, Raiamas guttatus, Barilius barnoides, Mystacoleucus argenteus and Mastacembelus armatus plus unidentified members of Crossocheilus an…

This species is very rare in the aquarium trade but available on occasion. It has 8-9 darkish body bars which usually split vertically as the fish mature, and like some conspecifics possesses a prominent dorsal adipose crest on the caudal peduncle.

Schistura is the most species-rich genus among…

This fish occasionally turns up as a contaminant in shipments of A. sp. 'AR01'. The latter is usually traded as A. elongatus but that species appears endemic to higher altitude waters of the Brahmaputra drainage in Darjeeling District which borders Jalpaiguri to the north east. These flow down from the Sivalik Hills whereas the Raidak I originates in Bhutan. Only three species of Aborichthys have been officially described to date meaning this is likely to represent an undescribed speci…

This fish is usually traded as A. elongatus but that species appears endemic to higher altitude waters of the Brahmaputra drainage in Darjeeling District which borders Jalpaiguri to the north east. These flow down from the Sivalik Hills whereas the Raidak I originates in Bhutan. Only three species of Aborichthys have been officially described to date meaning this is likely to represent an undescribed species. It was pictured in Tekriwal and Rao (1999) under the name 'A. bijulensis' but…

Prior to description this species was considered to represent, and traded as, A. rubidipinnis, but that species is apparently endemic to the lower Irrawaddy basin in Myanmar and unknown in the aquarium hobby.

Male individuals of A. pictilis, A. botia and A. mandalaysensis possess a suborbital slit rather than suborbital flap which immediately distinguishes…

According to Kottelat (1990) the chief distinguishing characters for the genus are: possession of 9-18½ branched dorsal-fin rays; colour pattern without black basal caudal bar, but with an ocellus at upper base of caudal-fin; upper lip with or without several rows of papillae; lower lip with a broad median interruption and a widened, papillated pad on each side.

This species may be seen listed as a member of Nemacheilus or the nomen nudum Noemacheilus in older literature and is sometimes sold as 'red tailed, striped sand loach' or 'red tailed squirrel loach'.

Only two other Aborichthys have been described to…

This species isn’t common in the trade but occasional specimens may be found among shipments of wild caught fishes from northeast India, and it’s sometimes seen on sale as ‘pan…

This apparently undescribed species has been available in the hobby since around 2006 and has been traded under several trade names of which others include ‘tri-band sumo loach’ and ‘chubby loach’.

The name ‘Sumo II’ is now in wide use to distinguish it from the real S. balteata since both have been traded as ‘Sumo loach’…

Traded under various names including ‘mottled’, ‘eyepot’, ‘sand’ and ‘striped’ loach. It’s perhaps one of the better choices for those new to keeping nemacheilids being relatively hardy, peaceful and exhibiting some quirky behavioural traits. The characteristic ocellus, a dark marking at the top of the caudal peduncle that resembles an eye, is thought to have some function in predator distraction and is normally more intense in younger specimens.