Dropped by Aquatic Kingdom today and they had just gotten in a shipment of rare fish from China. Several tanks full of Imperial Flower Loaches (Leptobotia elongata) in sizes 5″ up to about 12″, and Tibet Royal Loaches (Triplophysa siluroides) in similar sizes – this one is sometimes called Freshwater Sand Tiger Shark (I guess cuz it looks like a sand tiger shark… which is awesome!!!). The Imperial Flower Loaches supposedly can get up to about 2 feet long! The Tibet Royals up to about 16″ long!!

Both are somewhat predatory.. These fish were only recently introduced to the hobby by Stan Sung a few yrs ago.. Didn’t think I would ever see these at my LFS!

The Tibet Royals/Sand Tiger Sharks had a huge range of patterns from tiny mosaic lines to tiger shark patterns and everything inbetween.. I think maybe 2 different species of Triplophysa here. But you be the judge.. They’re not that active..

The Imperial Flowers look like giant clown loaches a bit.. Some are green, and some are reddish. All are active swimmers, like clown loaches.. (Pix of Tibet Royals first, then Imperial Flowers)

Sorry about the dirty glass in some of the pix.. Was way too excited to see these fish!

Tibet Flower Loaches In the box getting dripped to acclimate..

Wide variety of patterning on these guys..

Tanked now..

Like this pattern..

This guy is about 12″ long!

More jumbos..

They do have a shark-like profile!

Medium sized guys..

Jumbos again..

Close-up of the Triplophysa head..

Compare to the Imperial Flower, Leptobotia head..

Definitely different..

What an awesome loach!

A reddish Imperial Flower Loach..

Green one..

No two patterns the same..

These ones are big.. 10″+

This guy about 12″..

Some medium sized ones..

Active like clown loaches..