If you want to add some other fishes into the tank of hillstream loaches, then you can choose bottom-dwelling, peaceful and small freshwater fish. To avoid any stress and to offer them enough space, you should choose a 50-gallon aquarium. In general, a small group of about 3 hillstream loaches requires a minimum of 20 gallons. Mark is the founder of Aquarium Store Depot. The yarn will need to be long enough to reach the bottom of the tank. And watching them roaming around the aquarium is very addictive. The Aquarium Guide (TAG) was started to provide high-quality aquarium and aquascaping information, articles, and techniques in an easy to use and understand format. Besides, they can live well with other loaches from Megachilidae, balitoridae, and gastromyzontidae families. They are known for their unique, flattened bodies and ability to cling to rocks and other surfaces using suction cups on their underside. For instance, tetras, snails, rasbora, akysis, danio, Stiphodon, hara, rhinogobjus, Dwarf Shrimp, and more. References:SewelliaMicroanatomy of the Paired-Fin Pads of Ostariophysan Fishes. That being said, many hobbyists have successfully kept these fish with typical tropical fish in water temperatures up to 80 F. The common name hillstream loach also refers to the overall Balitoridae scientific family instead of the singular species; this group may also be known as river loaches. This is due to the fact that these fish do best when kept in a group of 3-4, so a larger tank is needed to ensure they have enough room to move around and feel secure. Sand and fine gravels are good choices of substrate for these beautiful bottom-dwelling fish. For example, you can go for blanched vegetables, frozen brine shrimp, and more. Tank Size: Minimum 50+ gallon. This can be done by performing regular water changes and using a stronger filter. With proper care, however, these fish can be very rewarding and make a great addition to any aquarium. Butterfly hillstream loaches only grow to be about 3 inches long. This species is very difficult to breed and the fry are very delicate. That container looks small even for one imo. However, they are totally different even though they share a few similarities. Theyre also peaceful fish that get along well with other community fish, which makes them a great option for beginners and experienced fishkeepers alike. Hillstream loach fish typically have a lifespan of between 5 and 10 years. This includes freshwater gobies and danios as well. Ultimately, it's up to you and your budget, as hillstream loaches can cost around $15 each. Home Home & Family Pets & Livestock Hillstream Loaches: A Comprehensive Guide. Hillstream loaches require especially clean water, so we recommend weekly water changes of about 30%. If you take good care of them and offer them healthy fish food, the adult hillstream loaches may start breeding. In a group, the largest and most aggressive males are at the top of the hierarchy, while the smallest and weakest fish are at the bottom. . However, its rare and only happens when either the tank is too small or the aquarium is crowded. Thats why it is advisable to keep around three to four hillstream loaches in a 40 to 50-gallon capacity aquarium. This is thought to be a form of camouflage that helps them avoid predators. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. A large aquarium provides more space for the fish to swim around and explore, as well as holding more water volume which can help to stabilize water conditions. Hillstream loaches are peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish that do well in a community tank. Scouts honor . Hillstream loaches are relatively hardy fish that do best in well-oxygenated water with plenty of hiding places, such as rocks or driftwood. Hillstream loaches will enjoy a variety of live, frozen, and freeze-dried options including brine shrimp, insect larvae, and bloodworms. They have a small mouth that is located at the bottom of their head. The best substrate for a Hillstream loach aquarium is one that is smooth and doesnt have any sharp edges that could injure the fish. As the name suggests, Hillstream loaches are found in fast-flowing streams. Hillstream Loach ( Sewellia lineolate) Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons This loach lives in fast-moving streams of China, Southeast Asia, and India. Hillstream loaches are outgoing species and only hide when there is larger or predatory fish available in the tank. Adult hillstream loaches only grow to about 3 inches. Hillstream loaches come from shallow and well-oxygenated, fast-moving rivers and streams throughout Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia1. It can be near impossible to tell male hillstream loaches apart from females, especially if trying to differentiate between juveniles. Hillstream loaches live in fast-flowing mountain streams and rivers, so they have adapted to have streamlined bodies that allow them to move quickly and efficiently against the current. These fish have a brown or black base color with white spots all over their body. Tank Size Both species require larger tanks for small groups. The biggest factor impacting their lifespan is water quality. Because these fish are not sensitive or nocturnal so you can use a full spectrum LED light on your aquarium. Powerful filtration and powerheads circulate water to create a constant current that agitates the surface water to introduce oxygen. Lets learn all we can about this odd-looking fish. If you have more males you might see a lot of fighting over territory. However, keeping more than that can create scuffles between them over their territory. Smooth, rounded stones and clay ornaments make great hiding spots for the hillstream loach, as they can easily navigate around them. These fish are one of the most attractive algae-eating species available, but they have some special requirements when it comes to their tank setup and feeding. Well, this is not the case with Reticulated Hillstream Loach; however, they can be shy around larger fish. Besides, the water condition and flow of water are good. They were discovered in Guizhou province, and then they expanded through Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Hillstream loaches are known to be very adaptable and hardy fish. You should also add plenty of aquatic plants and provide a strong current with good water circulation. Despite their small size, Hillstream Loaches require extra care compared to other freshwater fish due to their special needs regardng water quality and flow. The water parameters that they need are as follows: Water temperature: 64-75 degrees Fahrenheit pH levels: 6.0-8.0 Water hardness: 2-12 dGH Temperature: the hillstream loach inhabits in humid, subtropical area where the air temperature is seldom lower than 15,5 C and it can be significantly higher in summer. In general, hillstream loaches care a stress-free and simple process. Aquarium Store Depot earns a commission if you make a purchase. Depending on the size of your tank you may want to stick to 3 5 Hillstream loaches. Thank you for visiting! Butterfly hillstream loaches are active fish that enjoy swimming in groups. Compared to their body size, the Hillstream loaches have large fins that are adapted for living in fast-flowing water. These fish are known for their unique butterfly markings. It is also important to provide plenty of hiding and resting places for these fish, which can be provided by driftwood and sturdy plants. Those with highly flattened undersides are believed to have previously inhabited streams with faster running water as opposed to those with less flattened undersides, Have slightly large fins used to wing themselves into rock crevices, Have got modified pelvic and pectoral fins leading to a powerful suction-like cup which allows them to cling onto rocks, crawl and even eat on surfaces that are prone to high speed waters, Additional power-heads for adequate flow of water. Filtration is an important part of any fish tank, but it is especially important in Hillstream Loaches. Its also important to note that these are expensive fish, with individual fish fetching upwards of $10-$20. However, when kept in a home aquarium, they seem to enjoy the company of their own kind and do better when kept in groups of three or more. The female comes to lay eggs in this pit. Well, if you crush some flakes etc underwater, some of those particles ought to sink - they are too small for fish to take out of the water column. And when you keep them in an aquarium, they will love to eat anything that will grow on the plant leaves, rocks, driftwood, and walls of your fish tank. The dorsal fin is the longest and starts about two-thirds of the way back on the fish. After about a week, the eggs will hatch. The aerator can be placed anywhere in the tank to help introduce additional oxygen. I noticed that mine scavage powdered food from surfaces. There are many ways that you can keep a hillstream loach in your aquarium. These fish spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank so its important to invest in a good substrate. The Reticulated Hillstream Loach (Sewellia lineolata) is a freshwater fish native to East Asia. Time to dive in! Once the eggs hatch, the fry should be fed infusoria. This ensures that they have enough space to establish their own territories and that they can form their own social hierarchy without having to compete too much for food. This allows the smooth bodies of hillstream loaches to stay safe from jagged rocks and twigs. The best aquarium substrate for a hillstream loach would be sand or fine gravel. This means you need to either have a very large tank or choose tank mates that dont occupy the same water column. These peaceful fish have diurnal sleep cycles where they are awake during the day and sleep at night. This type of light will provide the fish and plants with the right amount of light to help them grow and thrive. Some of the best fish to keep with hillstream loaches include Harlequin Rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha), Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi), and Danios (Danio). The male will swim in front of the female and wave his fins to attract her attention. Hillstream loaches are also known for their playful personalities and their love of exploring their surroundings, which can make them a fun and interesting addition to any aquarium. First, you need to choose the right size tank. In their natural habitat, they prefer to live in clear water bodies with high dissolved oxygen levels. They are a great addition to any freshwater aquarium that needs some cleaning crew. Their favorite is aufwuch, Pellet food, shrimp pellets, algae wafers, flake, frozen food including brine shrimp and, Vegetables like kales leaves, cucumber, blanched spinach and courgette are another specialty that have been tried and were successful, To be extremely successful with feeding the loaches, having two or more tanks could be a good idea. The changes are slow and might not be noticeable unless you place before and after pictures next to each other. Aquarium Store Depotis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. They have a strong sense of smell and sight, which they use to find food in the water. Shaped much like a stingray, this fish frequents the waters of China. In the wild environment, they eat very small aquatic crustaceans found at the bottom of the river, a tiny organism living underwater, and algae. As opposed to other types of fish, the loaches are not known to harm their fry. David is passionate about quality-focused journalism and has worked in the publishing industry for over 10 years. Some recommended species are Java fern (Leptochilus pteropus), Amazon sword (Echinodorus grisebachii), and members of Bolbitis. They have a flat stomach and come with brown and yellow-colored lines along with black spots. Hillstream Loaches: The Specialists at Life In The Fast Lane Females and males for tank fish have a very minimal appearance. Colorful koi fish been revered for centuries, and it's easy to see why. These fish also help keep the tank clean by eating algae and other debris. Other than the tank being a bit too small, it doesn't sound too terrible. . We believe that family edutainment should be engaging, inspiring and always on trend so that every member of the family can benefit from it! At first glance, its easy to confuse a hillstream loach with a pleco fish from the Loricariidae family. They can also be very skittish, quickly darting away if disturbed. Their name is pretty explanatory of what living conditions they need to live in.
