Loach or Young Barbel or....

JAYS · #1 (**permalink**) 15-06-2008, 07:16 AM

Grateful if someone could give me a positive ID on the fish in this photograph please. A group of schoolchildren were very excitedly "pond dipping" in a fast gravelly run on the river. They also caught quite a few bullheads, readily identifiable by their wedge shape and huge pectoral fins. I was trout fishing nearby and the teacher came across and asked whether I could identify the fish in the photo. Initially I gave the answer young barbel, but a day or so later I began to have doubts, and I am now tending towards loach (stone loach?) However I have never seen either young barbel or loach at close range before so I would ask your help please. The fish were about three inches long.
I know the river holds barbel, as for loach, I really don't know.
Many thanks

Loach? or Barbel? - Wild About Britain Pics

djackso · #2 (**permalink**) 15-06-2008, 08:27 AM

I'd guess young barbel, but I can't find any pictures.

djackso · #3 (**permalink**) 15-06-2008, 08:42 AM

The barbel has 4 barbels around the mouth, the stone loach has 6.

On this basis, they must be stone loach.

JAYS · #4 (**permalink**) 15-06-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djackso

I'd guess young barbel, but I can't find any pictures.

Thanks for that Djackso. I think I am still going for stone loach: there look to be 6 barbels, and the tail, not too easily visible, appears not to have the forked shape of a barbel.

Hope they are loach: until yesterday I didn't know about the river having resident bullheads, and it would be rather nice if it also has loach.

wildlifesnapper · #5 (**permalink**) 15-06-2008, 08:03 PM

Hi

yeah, I agree with Loach

neil

RogerTheCat · #6 (**permalink**) 15-06-2008, 08:52 PM

I would go with Stone Loach. I found this page which if you scroll down shows a very similar image to yours.

Sussex Ouse Conservation Society - Flora and Fauna - Fish

JAYS · #7 (**permalink**) 16-06-2008, 03:17 AM

I went back better prepared to take photos. So another stone loach for certain.

Stone Loach - Wild About Britain Pics

and a Bullhead

Bullhead - Wild About Britain Pics

and a beautiful minnow in full breeding colours

Minnow - Wild About Britain Pics

djackso · #8 (**permalink**) 16-06-2008, 06:58 AM

Wow - they are lovely pictures - how do you do that? I mean - they seem to be posing for the camera - I thought they hid under stones - or at least, they did when I were a kid!