Goby Identification

[Chad Johnson]

Hello! I’m new to this forum but have kept fish for a couple years now. I recently got this guy at my LFS. The owner had no idea what type of goby this was. He came in a shipment with some kuhli loaches. I can’t find anything online that looks like it. I’m currently keeping him in a 20 long. Does anyone have any idea what kind of fish this is?

[Biotope Biologist]

Forgive me I am not good with loach species, but it looks like a juvenile sumo loach (Schistura balteata) based on it's markings. 

[Struggle]

My guess is horse face loach but I’m just grasping at straws.

[Chad Johnson]

@Biotope Biologistit definitely looks like it is a young sumo loach. I’ve never heard of that species. Thanks so much for your help! I’ll post another picture to this thread as soon as it starts to show color.

[Tihshho]

On 9/1/2021 at 9:23 PM, Biotope Biologist said:

Forgive me I am not good with loach species, but it looks like a juvenile sumo loach (Schistura balteata) based on it's markings. 

Good eye! The substrate is so light that the loach is washed out while trying to blend in. I'd have to second that guess, it could be a female and they don't get the same intensity in banding or coloration.

[Biotope Biologist]

On 9/1/2021 at 6:33 PM, Struggle said:

My guess is horse face loach but I’m just grasping at straws.

I definitely thought that at first too based on the face. Some horse loaches aren't so, long in the face (excuse the awful pun, but I do mean it literally here).