![]() ![]() Hillstream loaches generally do well in community setups, but the males sometimes spar with each other if the tank doesn’t have enough cover. We’ve kept them with goldfish, livebearers, shrimp, snails, tetras, danios, and other schooling fish with no problems. What fish can live with hillstream loaches? They get along with most peaceful community fish that are similarly sized and won’t fin nip them. If your hillstream loach is missing, try looking in your filter because sometimes they like to crawl inside. Also, keep a tight lid on the aquarium since they have the ability to climb up glass walls and escape. A range of 65-80☏ (20-27☌) is acceptable, but at higher temperatures, they may be more susceptible to stress and illnesses. Any kind of fish tank filter will work, as long as it’s appropriately sized for your aquarium and the other inhabitants can handle the flow. In our opinion, what they really appreciate is a stable pH (preferably from 7.0-7.8) and good water quality. Make sure to use a tight-fitting aquarium hood or top because hillstream loaches can easily climb out of your aquarium. We have personally kept them in hot water tanks with clown loaches, unheated setups with goldfish, and even heavily planted 20-gallon tanks with gentle sponge filters – and the hillstream loaches happily thrived and bred in each of those different settings. Most of the initial research into this species says that they are a cool water fish that must be kept in a river manifold tank with fast current and high oxygenation. How to Set Up an Aquarium for Hillstream Loaches Because heavy rainfall can stir up sediment and cause fluctuating water parameters, they are quite hardy and can handle a wide range of environmental conditions. Their native habitat tends to have lots of rocks and is sparser in vegetation. Originally found in tropical regions of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, hillstream loaches live in shallow riffles, river rapids, and slower-moving stream pools in between. The hillstream loach has a highly patterned and streamlined body that is built to grip tightly onto rocks and withstand rushing rapids. During the daytime, you can often find them climbing on the glass in a side-to-side crawl or fluttering their fins on the ground while searching for food. Plus, its unusual body is covered with light-colored spots and dark brown striping patterns. This 2.5-inch (6.4 cm) oddball fish looks like a miniature stingray because of its streamlined shape, flat underside, and horizontal fins that can tightly grip onto any smooth surface. ![]() There are many types of hillstream loaches that live in similar environments, but let’s specifically discuss the reticulated hillstream loach (also known as the tiger hillstream loach or gold ring butterfly sucker) because it is one of the most common varieties available in the aquarium hobby. ![]() After more than a decade of owning, selling, and breeding them, this article shares our personal experiences on how to successfully keep this amazing species. Reticulated hillstream loaches ( Sewellia lineolata) are one of the coolest-looking algae eaters, but there’s a lot of conflicting information about their care requirements that makes people hesitant to try them. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |