Many tropical fish have long lifespans which means they share a lot of time with us. Their flattened fins allow them to scoot across these surfaces and the substrate without having to swim up into the water column, where they would easily be pushed away. With the knowledge drops Ill offer today, you will be ready to embark on keeping these unique fish in your aquarium. Hillstream loaches are very fond of caves and other hiding places. 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 are locals to almost every southeast nation, and are vividly found in Vietnam. Best Flowering Aquarium Plants For Your Tank (Expert Review), How Often Do Ghost Shrimp Molt? Once she has done that, the male will fertilize them. Females are usually docile and will not show territorial behaviors. Because these fish are not sensitive or nocturnal so you can use a full spectrum LED light on your aquarium. Hillstream loaches are very peaceful fish that want to mind their own business. In conclusion, Hillstream Loaches are a unique and interesting species of fish that thrive in a well-maintained tank with plenty of hiding spots. The female will lay her eggs on the spawning mop. To build hiding places, you can keep some smooth edged rocks. The tank should be at least 30 gallons and should have a strong current. Perhaps the most important thing to remember when caring for hillstream loaches is that they require a lot of oxygenated water. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more, Chloroquine Phosphate Aquarium Dosing Calculator, How To Euthanize A Fish - 1 Humane (and 7 Others MEthods To Avoid), Freshwater Stingray Care Guide (Types, Care, and Environment), What Are Aquarium Air Stones? Hillstream loaches are omnivores and bottom-feeders that eat small invertebrates, detritus, and algae in the wild. Some individuals can also come in black and white or complete yellow with small black dots. Hillstream loaches can be bred in a separate tank or in the main display. In this guide, you will learn how to correctly take care of Hillstream Loaches, as well as any other relevant information you may need. Their eyes are small and set high on the head. . Another reason why hillstream loaches are seen as difficult is that many hobbyists believe they only do well in fish tank setups that match the exact parameters as seen in their natural habitat ecosystems. Feeding You are using an out of date browser. Hillstream Loaches will live for between 6-8 years. If you have a community tank, other fish might eat the newly hatched fish. If left untreated, this disease can be fatal to fish. They are a relatively small fish, with a slim and elongated body and an eye-catching pattern of stripes. Hillstream loaches will enjoy a variety of live, frozen, and freeze-dried options including brine shrimp, insect larvae, and bloodworms. Furthermore, you should also avoid fewer dominant loaches, such as vanmanenia, Formosania, gastromyzon, anemia, and more. You must log in or register to reply here. A coldwater fish tank can house a variety of fish and plant species that prefer cooler temperatures. It has a large head with small eyes, and its mouth is located at the bottom of its head. Hillstream loaches are egg scatters and the male and female will swim in the water column releasing egg and sperm simultaneously. This makes them easy to keep, given that they don't require as much food as other fish. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The best aquarium substrate for a hillstream loach would be sand or fine gravel. The small size makes it easy for the fish to hide in crevices and rocks. They are native to China, India, Japan, and Korea. It looks healthy but I'm concerned that I haven't seen it eat. Remember, the hillstream loach can usually be found eating algae in shallow waters under direct sunlight. They also have an interesting behavior of clinging to rocks and plants in their habitat. Hillstream loaches like the water to be a little on the colder side so that rules out a lot of tropical freshwater fish. Hillstream loaches are relatively hardy fish that do best in well-oxygenated water with plenty of hiding places, such as rocks or driftwood. The best feeding practice for Hillstream loach in captivity is to feed them a mix of protein and vegetable foods. The aerator can be placed anywhere in the tank to help introduce additional oxygen. The breeding tank should have plenty of hiding places and smooth rocks and soft sand or fine gravel for the female to lay her eggs on. In fact, you will find these fishes spending most of their time scavenging for food, or they can be found latched on the glass of the aquarium or on a rock. The yarn will need to be long enough to reach the bottom of the tank. Breeding hillstream loaches is definitely possible but is known to be quite challenging. So its easy to find some compatible tank mates for them. Losing a pet is never easy, but losing a fish can really be hard! Plants would be minimal, with intense lighting that facilitates algae growth. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Butterfly hillstream loaches are peaceful fish that get along well with other similar species. They have a rather small head in comparison to the rest of their body. Your typical hillstream loach won't grow larger than 2.5 inches. It should be noted that hillstream loach breeding is possible in all aquarium setup types, not just coldwater ones. Hillstream loaches are small, freshwater fish that are native to Southeast Asia. High-protein foods will encourage them to breed faster. Among the loach species, the easiest to breed is Pseudogastromyzon Cheni. There are many ways that you can keep a hillstream loach in your aquarium. Hillstream loaches can be bred under tank conditions. You need tank mates that stay active in the middle and top portions of the water column! Hillstream loaches still prefer well-oxygenated, fast-flowing water with stable parameters. They have a unique feature that acts as a suction cup on their underside which helps them stay attached to rocks and other surfaces. Another factor that can impact their lifespan is diet. For a start, here's your free ebook when you sign up! For hillstream loach specific, they like high flow cooler tanks with lots of oxygen content. If you want to keep your hillstream loaches together, make sure that you keep three loaches in a school. Fish Lore's aquarium fish forum - aquarium hobbyists helping hobbyists since 2005! Though they greatly enjoy benthic algae, hillstream loaches are omnivores that need both meat- and plant-based foods. The hillstream loach fishes are referred to as Cypriniformes and Cobitoidea, with the superfamily further split into eight subgroups. When ready, the couple will pair up freely in the water column. As for tank mates, the options are endless. Some of the adjustments for their tank should include: It is crucial that you provide your hillstream loaches with sufficient space while keeping them in a tank as they can harass each other for food and space. Dry flakes, pellets, and algae wafers are not always a complete source of food so its best to add some frozen protein foods to their diet as well. This disease is usually introduced to a tank by new fish. It is, therefore, safe to leave them in the same aquarium with the adults. Hillstream loach fish are known for their unique patterns and fins, which make them a popular choice for aquariums. The minimum tank size for hillstream loaches is 20 gallons. The second disease to be aware of is gill flukes. The appearance of the hillstream loach can tell you everything you need to know about the natural habitats of this fish. Thats why it is advisable to keep around three to four hillstream loaches in a 40 to 50-gallon capacity aquarium. Yes, loaches can live with Bettas in a community tank. While living together, they dont prefer to begin any trouble with other fishes. Hillstream loach fish typically have a lifespan of between 5 and 10 years. In the wild environment, they eat very small aquatic crustaceans found at the bottom of the river, a tiny organism living underwater, and algae. Theyre social creatures that do best when they have their own kind around. Butterfly hillstream loaches (scientific name: Sewellia lineolata) are a type of freshwater fish that is native to various parts of China and Vietnam. Some recommended species are Java fern (Leptochilus pteropus), Amazon sword (Echinodorus grisebachii), and members of Bolbitis. If you want to have a bigger group of Reticulated Hillstream fish, you will need a bigger aquarium. You also need to make sure that the inside of their tank is well-oxygenated. The male will swim in front of the female and wave his fins to attract her attention. There are four main hillstream loach aquarium setups you can consider: 1. This allows for ASD to promote items that are more effective to promote via Amazon versus selling on this site due to shipping costs, the vendor's choice to only carry through Amazon, or order minimums. These fish spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank so its important to invest in a good substrate. I noticed that mine scavage powdered food from surfaces. Ornamental Fish Dealers. Hillstream loaches are also known for their ability to change their coloration to match their surroundings. This should keep the other fish in the aquarium distracted while your hillstream loaches eat. In their natural habitat, they prefer to live in clear water bodies with high dissolved oxygen levels. If you want to include plants then we recommend something thats very sturdy (like Java Fern). For goldfish tanks, hillstream loaches will do well with active goldfish breeds that arent weighed down by excess finnage or appendages. Sand and fine gravels are good choices of substrate for these beautiful bottom-dwelling fish. At this point, you may need to humanely euthanize your fish. Native to Vietnam and Laos, Reticulated hillstream loaches are found in fast-flowing, highly oxygenated small streams with submerged plants, as well as in larger rivers where current velocity may exceed 1 m/sec. You will also need to add some plants to your tank to make it beautiful as well as keep the water clean. We recommend keeping hardier plants that can withstand fast water flow and maybe colder water. We believe that family edutainment should be engaging, inspiring and always on trend so that every member of the family can benefit from it! How Many Hillstream Loaches Should Be Kept Together? The flat body of the hillstream loach and its strong suckermouth are designed to keep these fish attached to hard surfaces when up against a strong water current. Colorful koi fish been revered for centuries, and it's easy to see why. 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. Overall, we think theyre a great fish and we highly recommend them! This helps the fish to be more comfortable and less stressed in their new environment, which can lead to a healthier and longer life. Eventually, the male will begin to entertain and chase the female; the male may even try to dislodge the female from her attached surface. Butterfly hillstream loaches are a freshwater fish that is native to fast moving streams and rivers in Southeast Asia. You can ask your question in the comment section. In the wild, they can be found in countries such as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Make sure you provide them with plenty of hiding places within the tank so they feel safe at all times and keep up with regular water changes so they stay healthy! They are active and playful and enjoy hiding among the rocks and plants in their tank. These fish are usually greenish-yellow body color that is decorated with brown or black spots and patterns. Adult hillstream loaches can be told apart due to the broadness of their heads. Some people keep them with coldwater goldfish, while others keep them with typical tropical fish species. He has a keen interest in education and loves to write kids friendly content. How to you make sure yours eats the peas/pellets you feed him and not any other greedy fish in the tank? But you might not see any signs for weeks before you see white spots on your fish. Unfortunately, this creates a lot of rumors about these fish and limits them to a certain group of hobbyists. Butterfly hillstream loaches have a lifespan of 3-5 years. These fish are actually quite hardy and dont fall ill often. For proper breeding, the tank should be a loach-only aquarium. Giving them a place to hide will help them feel comfortable and greatly reduce their stress levels. Visit The Aquarium Guide (TAG)'s profile on Pinterest. They are also a peaceful fish, which makes them a good tank mate for a variety of other species. Hillstream loaches are peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish that do well in a community tank. The Butterfly hillstream loach is a very small freshwater fish that is easily recognizable thanks to its long and slender body. They have very short barbels that help them locate food. They can be given algae wafers and a variety of blanched vegetables, including lettuce and cucumber, to supplement their vegetative needs. A river tank is the most natural habitat you could give your hillstream loach. Adult hillstream loaches only grow to about 3 inches. Ideally, the aquarium will be at least 36" long, and contain a multitude of hiding spots amongst rocks, cobbles and bogwood. However, they can be territorial and may fight with other bottom-dwelling fish if the aquarium is overcrowded. The only problem you may run into with these loaches is making sure they get enough to eat, but otherwise, hillstream loach care is straightforward and easy. They can also be seen grazing on algae and scavenging for other small invertebrates in their environment. Additionally, if the water quality in their habitat is poor, it could shorten their lifespan. These setups can be complex or straightforward in design, but plenty of space and the surface area should be allotted to your loach. These benefits are both in terms of aesthetics and technicality. Powerful filtration and powerheads circulate water to create a constant current that agitates the surface water to introduce oxygen. Aggressive and predatory fish will stress out and even injure unprotected loaches. These are controlled systems where visitors can extend their hands into the water with the hopes that a stingray will swim by to be touched. They are peaceful and relatively easy to care for, and their unique appearance is sure to please any fish enthusiast. Yes, hillstream loaches are typically quite shy. As soon as it is ready, transfer the fish to this while preparing the other the same way, Patchiness in their color is a sign that they are unhealthy and need swift attention, When they refuse to feed, this too could be a sign of brewing trouble, When they become limp, check on the oxygen in the tank. He started in the aquarium hobby at the age of 11 and along the way worked at local fish stores. Theyve been documented in some veins of the famous Mekong River, which houses some of the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. The caudal fin is forked and extends back almost to the end of their bodies. For general coldwater tank setups, your loach can get along with danios and white cloud minnows. In the wild, these fish feed on a variety of small insects and crustaceans. We Have successfully kept these fish with the following fish: Hillstream loaches are a popular choice for aquariums because of their unique appearance and their ability to thrive in a variety of water conditions. Aqueon's 20 gallon aquarium kit offers all the basics to start off on the right foot. And they like water with a sufficient level of oxygen and current. Given time, it should become more confident even being alone. (And Should You Use Them), What Are Blood Worms? If youre determined to breed them, youll need to set up a specialized breeding tank. Yes, hillstream loaches need a fast-flowing water environment in order to thrive. They remain busy doing their own things. Any aquarium larger than 20 gallons will comfortably house hillstream loches as long as there is enough room for adequate water flow and filtration. They are a schooling species that prefer fast-flowing, oxygen-rich waters with rocky or sandy substrates. While in captivity, these loaches live well in a freshwater aquarium and the wild; they prefer to live in shallow streams. It is also important to provide plenty of hiding and resting places for these fish, which can be provided by driftwood and sturdy plants. The Reticulated Hillstream Loach (Sewellia lineolata) is a freshwater fish native to East Asia. Other than the tank being a bit too small, it doesn't sound too terrible. Besides, they need a big aquarium with sufficient oxygen levels, better water flow, and more. Here are some tips when feeding your hilstream loaches: The experts say hillstream loaches a calm as well as quite peaceful freshwater fish. Giving them a place to hide will help them feel comfortable and decrease their stress levels considerably. Males also develop a rugged structure on their pectoral fins. The filter will create surface movement while the wave pump pushes the rest of the water column. Contact|Policy & Privacy|Resource|Advertisement, TheAquariumGuide is 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. Hillstream loaches have been successfully bred in the aquarium hobby and are considered one of the easiest loach species to breed in general. With small broods of fry, as soon as they begin to breed, they spawn after every few weeks. The minimum tank size for a hillstream loach is 50 gallons, and ideally, these fish should be kept in groups of at least 3 individuals. Our primary topics include aquascaping, tank guides, equipment reviews, and showcase of various examples of great aquariums across the web. He has worked on making aquarium and pond keeping approachable. They also have very strong suckermouths that can easily become attached to a filter intake or other equipment. If they are at least 4, the better, Hillstream loaches are best in school of three or four. At the same time, you are providing a better living environment for your fish. So, instead of keeping them alone, you should keep them in a group in a big aquarium. Lastly, hillstream loaches can be kept in a community tank setting. Additionally, hillstream loaches are active swimmers, so having a larger area will allow them to do this and help them remain healthy and happy. As well see though, these small fish like to be kept in groups which can start to increase bioload. Today it is easier than ever to install a pond right in your own back yard, but building a koi pond is neither fast nor cheap, so you want to make sure you're starting out in the right way. Or you landed on here because you had no idea what they are? However, they are totally different even though they share a few similarities. As for the substrate, you can go with either sand or gravel. They are a species that is best left to the experts. Males and females generally have the same size, though males may be slightly taller. If you have a smaller tank than the other two might be hiding because the other three always chase them away when they come out, which would make sense why the . Thank you for visiting! This species will not bother any fish that looks physically diverse to them. Tank Temperature: 68-75F. In addition, these fish may also enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of old pieces of driftwood or artificial plants that are designed specifically for aquarium fish. Theyre not known to eat plants, but they will uproot them when theyre looking for a place to hide. Hillstream loaches can adapt to a wide range of pH and hardness levels but do best in water that tests between 6.5-7.5 and 10-15 KH, respectively. They can even be safely kept with dwarf shrimp! These fish love to hide, so you need to provide them with plenty of places to do so. Hillstream loaches require especially clean water, so we recommend weekly water changes of about 30%. Some hobbyists keep a single hillstream loach in a 10 gallon fish tank, but these fish do best when kept in groups. Many fancy goldfish cannot swim against an overly strong current, and large goldfish can create a lot of waste that creates instability in water chemistry. Hillstream loaches are generally active during the day, unlike many other species of loaches which are nocturnal. In my tank, the loaches sitting in one area and not eating were usually a sign they will die within a month or so. They dont require a lot of maintenance as well as attention as long as you have the right tank. Many of the species are popular for aquaria, species in the genus Sewellia are most commonly sold in the . If you get just one, it may be lonely, but if you get two there is a chance that the stronger one could bully the weaker one over food or territory.