Hillstream loaches are also prone to common freshwater diseases. You can occasionally give them micro-crustaceans such as Daphnia, Thawed Bloodworms, Insect Larvae or Brine Shrimps. To reduce aggression levels, make sure to provide more decorations or aquarium plants to block line of sight. Another disease to look out for are fungal infections which arise due to bad water quality and infected wounds. With careful planning of your aquarium layout, you can not only provide your catfish with hiding places, but you will actually have the benefit of seeing them as well. They suck onto smooth rocks, eroded down by the fast river waters, which allows them to climb upstream. Hillstream Loaches - Best Oddball Algae Eater? Hillstream Loaches have developed a suction mechanism using their pectoral and pelvic fins which allows them to stick to rocks and the glass of aquariums whilst simultaneously feeding on algae. Hillstream Loaches are best kept in cooler water. In the wild, these fish feed on a variety of small insects and . This species is unbothered by other species.Dont house several hillstream loaches together unless theres enough space for the fish to have their own territories.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'fishkeepingworld_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_25',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-narrow-sky-2-0');A crowded tank will cause the fish to harass each other over food and space. Also, avoid high water temperatures to ensure greater dissolved oxygen content. The most common type of stream loach is the red-tailed loach (Doratochromis chrysomelas). The hillstream loach (Sewellia lineolata) originates from Vietnam and is found in fast-flowing rivers and streams in Quang Nam, Laos, Binh Dinh, Thua Thien-Hue, and Quang Ngai. Live plants provide a good hiding place for hillstream loaches and are essential for reducing the waters nitrate content. With proper care, this peaceful fish makes a great choice for freshwater hobbyists in search of unusual aquarium inhabitants. There arent any big challenges you have to deal with when it comes to hillstream loach care, just maintain the appropriate water levels and theyll be good to go! Only registered users can write reviews. Are you looking for a bottom dweller that is sure to steal the spotlight from any free swimming fish? Increase the temperature of the tank to 78F and perform a cool water change to provoke breeding. Its scientific classification is as follows: Kingdom: Animalia. However, they cannot survive by eating algae only, so make sure to feed them a wide variety of high-quality foods, such as Repashy gel food, sinking wafers, frozen spirulina brine shrimp, and blanched vegetables. The tiger hillstream loach has base coloration is a light grayish/yellow and thick black stripes go in random directions all over their body. Juvenile hillstream loaches cost $12$15 depending on the location of the buyer. Butterfly hillstream loaches have a lifespan of 3-5 years. Hillstream Loach Facts. You wont need to separate the parents and the newborn fish after theyve hatched. Stream loaches come in a variety of colors, although their coloring can range from reddish brown to turquoise. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. The average hillstream loach size is between 2-3 inches in length. You should try to replicate this in your aquarium. Also, their oxygen and water flow requirements mean its simply not possible to provide them with the conditions they need in a small tank. If you have ever owned a goldfish, then you probably recognize the Streamer Loach. A freshwater tank of at least 50 gallons is required for a hillstream loach. Although peaceful, most will defend territories, either to sequester feeding resources like a nice patch of algae, or to keep other fish away from a potential breeding site. Hillstream loaches are tiny after hatching, and you should cover pumps and filters in the tank to prevent the fry from being sucked into this equipment.Follow the steps below to breed hillstream loaches:Place a healthy male and female hillstream loach in your separate feeding tank.Increase the temperature of the tank to 78F and perform a cool water change to provoke breeding. This small fish likes to keep a low profile with the help of environmental hiding areas, fast movement, and camouflaging color patterns. However, buying from a reputable breeder is safer than buying from an online marketplace because you can be certain that the fish was cared for properly.Appearance & BehaviorThe hillstream loach is popular for its appearance. Balitorids are really interesting fish to watch. Kale leaves, spinach, raw cucumber slices, zucchini, and blanched lettuce leaves are foods that can be added to the tank during feeding. Otocinclus: Oto Catfish Care Guide & Species Profile, Yoyo Loach Care Guide: Size, Breeding, and More, The Clown Loach Care Guide: A Playful Bottom Dweller For Community Tanks, Marine Aquarium Societies of North America, Hillstream loach, lizardfish, flossensaugers, Light brown with white and dark brown markings. Because it doesnt take long for them to reach their maximum size of about an inch long. The reticulated hillstream loach is a huge fan of fast-moving water and is normally found in rivers and streams throughout Asia that have strong currents. When most people mention the Hillstream Loach they mean Sewellia lineolata. Borneo suckers prefer a cooler water temperature, between 20 and 24o. In this article we cover everything you need to know, from tank mates, to popular varieties, and much more. If you are looking to distinguish the sex of your Hillstream Loach then all you need to do is look at the head and roundness of your fish from either above or from the underside. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is a parasitic ciliate that attaches itself to the external integument of the fish. Add a loach-safe antibacterial treatment to the tank to treat skinny disease.Fungal InfectionFungal infections are characterized by fluffy, white growths on the affected fishs head, body, and fins. Excludes Frozen Foods. You should view this as more of a cherry on top than something reliable. All of these traits make them a wonderful addition to any peaceful community tank. Use a sponge or mesh intake to prevent hillstream loaches from wriggling into the filter. They dont want to start trouble with any other critters and prefer to spend their time scavenging for something to eat or latched onto a rock surface (or the glass in your tank). However, even if you are interested in keeping a different variety keep reading. This species is unbothered by other species. The fry should be just fine in the same tank as the parents but they should not be introduced to the main tank until they are matured as they are at risk of being eaten by bigger predators. The female may now choose to ignore the male and go about her business or she will stick by him while he digs in the substrate, forming a nest. This is where the female will put her eggs. They are reasonably hardy which means you do have some wiggle-room, but its best to keep them in water with the following levels. While factors like water temperature and pH levels are things most aquarists are comfortable with, the current requirements can be a departure from many of the common freshwater fishes out there. These characteristics make it easy for you to tell your fish apart from other species like rainbowfish or molly fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which give the image of cat-like whiskers, they are found primarily in freshwater environments of all kinds, with species on every continent except Antarctica. Reticulated Hillstream Loach. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Shrimp can be very Read More , The Yoyo Loach is an energetic little fish that just loves to put on a show. This surface area allows for fast water circulation and increases oxygen concentration. Since these Read More , The Kuhli Loach is a small loach that lives at the bottom of the tank. They have dark brown-black stripes embellished with lighter cream-yellow spots and wiggles. The Hillstream Loach is very peaceful and you will rarely find them antagonizing other fish or each other. Everything Fishkeeping 2022 - All Rights Reserved. To treat ich, quarantine the affected fish in a separate tank and raise the temperature of the tank by two degrees to speed up the lifecycle of the parasite. In the wild the Hillstream Loach lives in very fast-flowing rivers in humid, subtropical Asian rainforests. We prefer to stick with a combination of plants and smooth rocks but dont hesitate to do a little decorating! 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. Its quite common to see all of your hillstream loaches attached to the glass of your tank without a care in the world. Borneo suckers should be offered some vegetable matter. They require a lot of room, water, and food to live comfortably. Borneo suckers prefer a cooler water temperature, between 20 and 24o. Their native habitat tends to have lots of rocks and is sparser in vegetation. To prevent injury and allow for easy digging, choose a fine gravel or sand substrate. The head has a blunt and rounded shape with no barbels or teeth visible on the underside of their mouths. Hillstream loaches grow quickly. PH Range - 6 - 7.5. Smooth caves, old pieces of driftwood, and clay ornaments are good hiding places for hillstream loaches to hide. The base water parameters for a reticulated hillstream loach are fairly straightforward. (Ambastaia sidthimunki) Starting at $21.99. Despite having specific water requirements, hillstream loaches are beautiful, helpful additions to a home aquarium. Fast Free Shippingon all orders over $79.99. Add a loach-safe antibacterial treatment to the tank to treat skinny disease. To treat a hillstream loach with a fungal infection, add one tablespoon of fish salt for every gallon of water in the tank, or visit your local fish store for antifungal treatment. If you have any additional questions about hillstream loaches we would be very interested in hearing from you. The males, on the other hand, have a slightly slimmer body and you may see some small tubercles develop along the head and on the first few rays of the pectoral fins called fences. Getting the tanks parameters right will ensure your hillstream loach can thrive in your home aquarium. The tank should be long and rectangular, giving your hillstream loach plenty of surface area to explore along the bottom of the tank. This fish is common in the wild and can be seen swimming in strong currents, gliding over smooth rocks, and climbing vertical surfaces. The Hillstream Loach is a very peaceful community fish that often keeps to itself due to its small size and bottom-dwelling nature. Hillstream Loaches are notoriously difficult to breed in home aquariums. Hillstream loach is a unique species of loaches that have a few interesting characteristics. If youre looking for something unique yet still easy enough for beginners then look no further than this little guy. A stressed hillstream loach will lose its color. This is because these fish share a common ancestor and have been able to evolve independently from the rest of their group. The male will chase the female, beginning a courtship. It has a streamlined shape, smooth body, wing-like pelvic and pectoral fins, and flat underside.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'fishkeepingworld_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',145,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-banner-1-0');The underside of a hillstream loach works as a powerful ventral disc, enabling the fish to stick to surfaces in fast-flowing currents and climb vertical surfaces.In captivity, hillstream loaches stick to the glass sides of glass aquariums.Hillstream loaches are light brown with white spotting and dark brown or black stripes. After fertilization, it takes a couple of weeks for hatching to begin. Make sure the tank gets enough light to encourage biofilm growth, which hillstream loaches eat. Stay in touch with Aquarium Co-Op, see latest updates, and much, much more. Hillstream loaches are part of a family that includes rainbowfish, molly fish, and oddball members. The small size makes it easy for the fish to hide in crevices and rocks. Hillstream Loach. Substandard water quality and infected wounds are common causes of fungal infections. The unique physical features of the Reticulated Hillstream Loach reflect life adapted to fast-flowing streams. You dont want to have a lot of algae in your tank, and there will rarely be enough to sustain these fish. However, these fish are some of the most popular and widely-available loach species for sale today. While caring for these fish in the home aquarium, you can follow the instructions to maintain the water parameters that are suitable for them. You can either keep Hillstream Loaches on their own or in groups of 3 or more. pH: 7.0-7.8. Besides aggression, the main thing youll want to look for in a tank mate is temperature preference. A recommended minimum tank of 30 gallons should be provided to house the Reticulated Hillstream Loach. Hillstream loach care is a fairly simple and stress-free process. However, they have a very slow growth rate. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Males and females are the same size but females have a rounder body than males when viewed from above. They reach the subadult status, where they are around 2-2.5 inches long, at around 7 months after hatching. Hillstream loaches have very smooth bodies so you should do what you can to protect them! Care instructions, tank mates, size info, you name it. . If your hillstream loach is missing, try looking in your filter because sometimes they like to crawl inside. If not, remove the adults.Move the fry to your main aquarium when the fry are large enough to be left alone by big fish.Should You Get a Hillstream Loach for Your Aquarium?You should get a hillstream loach for your tank if youre looking for a unique fish and if youre prepared to provide the exact tank parameters that this fish needs to thrive.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_21',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');Hillstream loaches are well-suited to community tanks with other peaceful fish. Theyre very aware of their diminutive figure and wont push their luck with larger fish. These fins help them swim through fast-moving water without getting stuck on rocks or other obstacles. They live in the water and eat small insects so you can keep these pets with your other types of pet fish. If he proves himself, shell indicate that shes interested by staying nearby him instead of going on about her business. A well-balanced diet for a hillstream loach in captivity is a mi of flakes, pellets, algae wafers, frozen bloodworms, and brine shrimp. The hillstream loaches or river loaches are a family, the Balitoridae, [3] of small fish from South, Southeast and East Asia. Keeping them only in a pair can lead to one outcompeting and bullying the subordinate, which is an unhealthy dynamic. If you think its a little bit large considering how small these fish are, heres the reason: Author Note: These fish do best when kept in a group of 3-4. You should only buy a hillstream loach if youre committed to looking after this fish by maintaining the right tank setup. Borneo Suckers (Also known as the Chinese Hillstream Loach) are small, peaceful fish growing to a maximum size of about 6cm. A range of 65-80F (20-27C) is acceptable, but at higher temperatures, they may be more susceptible to stress and illnesses. pH- 6.5 - 7.5, Temp - 18 - 27 degrees Celsius. The Hillstream Loach grows to around 2.5 and 3 inches long. This appears on the fishs body as white spots and occurs due to poor water quality or the introduction of a new fish that already has ich. They are useful in maintaining algae levels whilst also getting along with many tropical free-swimming fish. Just give them plenty of food during the breeding season and watch what happens! Their diet consists primarily of other fish, so they make great pets for experienced aquarists who want something different than standard goldfish or tetras. They have a nice tapered shape (kind of like a torpedo) that allows them to cut through and withstand water that moves quickly. One of the only downsides is that they are difficult to breed in captivity, though you may wish to take this on as a challenge. You should feed your hillstream loaches similar foods in the aquarium. sinking algae wafers, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex worms. Catfish generally are excellent tankmates for a wide variety of other species of fish. Most hillstream loaches spend the daylight hours latched onto the side of the tank or searching for something to eat. However, its worth noting that these fish can exhibit territorial behavior in certain situations. 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. However, you shouldnt get a hillstream loach if your tank already contains dominant loaches or the bottom area of your tank is crowded. However, these fish are some of the most popular and widely-available loach species for sale today.You can find hillstream loaches in pet stores and online shops. These fish are sometimes called catfish or even mini-stingray (we can assure you they are neither). Like all fish, this lifespan range can be impacted quite a bit depending on the level of care they receive. If your Hillstream Loach is not relaxed then they will hide away. The underside of a hillstream loach works as a powerful ventral disc, enabling the fish to stick to surfaces in fast-flowing currents and climb vertical surfaces. Fungal infections are characterized by fluffy, white growths on the affected fishs head, body, and fins. DIVER'S DEN WYSIWYG Store - 100's of NEW Aquatic Life Added Daily! All catfish, except members of Malapteruridae (electric catfish), possess a strong, hollow, bonified leading ray on their dorsal and pectoral fins, through which a stinging protein can be delivered if the fish is irritated. The first step to take is making sure your set-up supports the growth of biofilm on large surface areas. Temperature - Tropical 20c - 25c. Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. pH Levels: 6.5-7.5. Hillstream loaches are accustomed to fast-flowing freshwater environments. The water is mostly clean due to its velocity and holds plenty of oxygen in it. They make wonderful algae eaters. They prefer oxygen rich water (plenty of aeration) and strong water flow from power filters. The Hillstream Loach will need at least a 50 gallon aquarium. Theyre also a little too small to be much of a nuisance. The trick to keeping these fish happy and healthy is to invest in test kits due to their sensitivity to changing water parameters. Follow the steps below to breed hillstream loaches: You should get a hillstream loach for your tank if youre looking for a unique fish and if youre prepared to provide the exact tank parameters that this fish needs to thrive. Buy It Now +$18.00 shipping. However, hillstream loaches become lonely when theyre housed alone, and a tank with enough space for six or more loaches is ideal.The tank shouldnt house aggressive fish species that are larger than hillstream loaches. This small, peaceful fish not only adds a unique element to any aquarium but also serves as an effective natural algae control. Your email address will not be published. Because these Loaches need colder waters you cannot keep them with many freshwater tropical fish. In their natural habitat, a hillstream loach will spend their time either camped out on a rock or slowly working their way across the bottom looking for food. 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. Hillstream loaches are a very peaceful and calm freshwater fish. Your typical hillstream loach won't grow larger than 2.5 inches. Hillstream loaches originate from cool waters, which allow them to live in the lower temperatures preferred by goldfish. Use testing kits to ensure that ammonia levels remain at 0 ppm and that nitrate levels never increase beyond 20 ppm.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_18',119,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3-0_1');.leader-3-multi-119{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}Substrate and DecorationsHillstream loaches are bottom-dwelling and like to burrow and slide their undersides across the bottom of the tank. Hillstream loaches are classed as vulnerable in the wild because the fishs habitat is being destroyed by human destruction. How many hillstream loaches can be kept together? It can be kind of funny to observe at times.
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