Well get into the details a bit further on in the guide, but that will have the biggest impact on their lifespan. Hillstream Loaches have been known to live up to 12 years when cared for properly. 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. I have a hillstream loach with a betta fish for the last year and half, loach don't bother the betta, and their in a 5.5 gal tank. Hillstream loaches are well-suited to community tanks with other peaceful fish. Hillstream loaches are very peaceful fish that want to mind their own business. Feeding the Reticulated Hillstream Loach is not difficult since it will accept most food items small enough to fit in its mouth. Sadly these Loaches remained largely unknown until their rediscovery in the 1990s. You should also place smooth pebbles or rocks on top of the substrate. Each additional Loach should be given at least 10 gallons. Suckers - Hillstream Loach - In Store Pick Up Only Suckers or Hillstream Loach like fastflowing well oxygenated water and are interesting to watch as they cling to aquarium glass. Substandard water quality and infected wounds are common causes of fungal infections.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.Habitat and Tank RequirementsHillstream loaches are accustomed to fast-flowing freshwater environments. He is also a proud member of the, Fishkeeping Worlds 4-in-1 Bundle Set eBook. Hillstream Loaches are best kept in cooler water. 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. . They are relatively small in comparison to other Loaches and will reach 2.5-3 inches as an adult. Theyre also inexpensive compared to other types of aquarium fish species. You should stick to smaller, peaceful companions. Shrimp can be very Read More , The Yoyo Loach is an energetic little fish that just loves to put on a show. Males have more pronounced heads than females, while females heads run into their pectoral fins, giving the fish a round appearance. Hillstream Loach: Complete Guide to Care, Breeding, Tank Size and Something that cant be swallowed by the fish is recommended. Look for a tank with dimensions of at least 52 inches in length, 24 inches in width, and 16 inches in height. Hillstream loaches are endemic to Southeast Asia and Australia, where most people have never heard of them. So, be sure to perform regular water changes and closely monitor your aquarium for signs of ammonia or nitrite spikes. Copyright 2022 - Fishkeeping World - All Rights Reserved, Robert Woods is the creator of FishKeeping World, a third-generation fish keeper, and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior. Because they are so difficult to breed in captivity the number of fry per clutch of eggs is unknown. In your aquarium, they will happily scrape off anything that grows on your fish tank walls, rocks, driftwood, and plant leaves. If you want your hillstream loach to live as long as possible then you need to make sure they have the right diet. Hillstream loaches are easy to care for as long as these fish live in the right water parameters. This is often surprising to people, given this Loachs small size. It is critical to maintain high water quality and aeration plus strong water movement to ensure the health of the Reticulated Hillstream Loach. Should You Get a Hillstream Loach for Your Aquarium? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Borneo Sucker - Coburg Aquarium Hillstream loach care is all about making sure they have the proper water parameters and tank conditions. 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. Just give them plenty of food during the breeding season and watch what happens! Something else you should consider adding to their tank is a series of smooth rocks. Required fields are marked *. Orders ship in 1-2 days. Your Hillstream Loach will also appreciate the extra hiding spots. This is why its usually best to keep their numbers at 3-4 in a 50-gallon tank. Besides aggression, the main thing youll want to look for in a tank mate is temperature preference. In the wild, they consume small aquatic crustaceans that live at the river bottom, algae, and small organisms living on underwater surfaces. Once fry have hatched it takes around 1 year for them to become fully grown. Use a sponge or mesh intake to prevent hillstream loaches from wriggling into the filter. FREE SHIPPING on qualifying aquarium supplies orders $49 and up. The ideal tank size for your hillstream loach is one that is at least 30 gallons. To create a natural habitat for the Tiger Hillstream Loach, aquascape with ample amounts of river rocks of varying size and shape to replicate a tumbled streambed. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device, Care Guide for Hillstream Loaches The Oddball Algae Eater, Top 10 Colorful Fish to Brighten Up Your Next Freshwater Aquarium, Care Guide for Silver Tip Tetras Fun and Interactive Schooling Fish, 5 Easy Tips to Save Money in the Fishkeeping Hobby, Top 5 Red Plants to Try in Your Next Planted Aquarium, Care Guide for Pygmy Corydoras The Worlds Tiniest Cory Catfish. A group of 4 will need at least 80 gallons. Hillstream loaches should be kept in aquariums that have plenty of rock or gravel. If you get two, the stronger one may bully the weaker one over food or territory. Since these fish spend so much time scouring the substrate, youll want to go with something soft and sandy. United. They are found in the wild in limestone caves and can be identified by their small size (theyre only about 3 inches long), black skin coloration, large eyes, and an orange stripe on their bodies. These fish do better in cooler water which is useful if you plan on keeping them with other species. pH level range: 6.5 to 7.5. Youll also want to aim for a water change once a week to keep the quality high. Borneo Sucker 3cm "Delivered to your door in Australia'' - LiveFish The Reticulated Hillstream Loach should not be housed in a tropical aquarium setup with water temperatures consistently above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Get weekly aquarium blog articles right in your inbox. While you dont need to have a ton of experience to care for them effectively, there are a few wrinkles that you might not be used to. You should try to replicate this in your aquarium. If this happens you can prevent aggression by providing plenty of space for them to establish their own territories with lots of hiding spots. The best tank mates for hillstream loaches are listed below. Like all fish, this lifespan range can be impacted quite a bit depending on the level of care they receive. You must use a bigger tank that is preferably longer in length giving a larger surface area for your loaches. 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. But they prefer live foods such as insects & small crustaceans. As one of the most peaceful species of fish, the hillstream loach is suitable for community tanks and rarely shows signs of aggression. We prefer to stick with a combination of plants and smooth rocks but dont hesitate to do a little decorating! 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. In addition, this very practical and specialized body shape helps accentuate the gorgeous wing-like finnage of the Butterfly Hillstream Loach. Notes from the owner: It's best to use sand or fine gravel as substrate in an aquarium with loaches and other types of bottom-dwellers. The tiny babies like to eat infusoria, vinegar eels, microworms, live baby brine shrimp, and powdered fry food. Reticulated Hillstream Loach - AquariumDomain.com Hillstream Loach Care Guide & Species Profile - Fishkeeping World You should invest in a very good filter and pump that is capable of turning the water over 15 times per hour. 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. Fine-grained gravel or sand is the ideal substrate for these fish as they like to burrow and wiggle across the bottom of the tank. A river tank set up which has had time to mature is advisable. Suckers or Hillstream Loach like fastflowing well oxygenated water and are interesting to watch as they cling to aquarium glass. (Chromobotia macracantha) Starting at $24.99. Loach - Red Lizard, Saddleback Hillstream Loach (Homaloptera But they dont just look really neat, theyre also quite easy to keep. Butterfly hillstream loaches have a lifespan of 3-5 years. Care Guide for Hillstream Loaches - Aquarium Co-Op Borneo Suckers (Also known as the Chinese Hillstream Loach) are small, peaceful fish growing to a maximum size of about 6cm. The information, content, and material contained on the site is intended to be of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute professional/medical advice. Juvenile hillstream loaches cost $12$15 depending on the location of the buyer.Hillstream loaches that are sold on marketplaces like eBay are often cheaper. Temperature range: 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. A planted tank is recommended as they reduce the nitrate content, increase oxygenation and again, provide surface area for biofilms to grow upon. Hillstream loach care is a fairly simple and stress-free process. Most of the time they will stay at the bottom of the tank and only venture higher up when they feel comfortable enough to suck on the glass of the tank. Reading this will make you ready to purchase one yourself! Hillstream Loach (Sewellia Lineolata) - Care Guide - Tankarium Hillstream Loaches will live for between 6-8 years. Although they will never physically harm each other, this can cause a substantial amount of stress for the less dominant individual. Can a hillstream loach be kept with a Betta? : r/bettafish - Reddit After fertilization, it takes a couple of weeks for hatching to begin. Feed the fry when they hatch. Hundreds of articles to help you with your aquarium. The trick to keeping these fish happy and healthy is to invest in test kits due to their sensitivity to changing water parameters. 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. If there arent enough algae in the tank, you can supplement a hillstream loachs diet with algae wafers. Make sure the adults get plenty of food, and cover your filter intake with a pre-filter sponge to prevent the fry from getting sucked up. Borneo suckers prefer a cooler water temperature, between 20 and 24o. In this guide, well go over everything you need to know about the reticulated hillstream loach. Most hillstream loaches spend the daylight hours latched onto the side of the tank or searching for something to eat. Substandard water quality and infected wounds are common causes of fungal infections. 21 watchers Hillstream loaches are small, with flat undersides and horizontal fins that give the fish the appearance of a miniature stingray. The tank should be long and rectangular, giving your hillstream loach plenty of surface area to explore along the bottom of the tank.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_15',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_16',136,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-136{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}This surface area allows for fast water circulation and increases oxygen concentration. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Hillstream loaches are accustomed to fast-flowing freshwater environments. 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. Hillstream loaches are peaceful, entertaining fish that stand out in aquariums due to their unique appearance and tendency to stick to the side of the tank. This is a territorial behavior done by the males to establish a territory. That may be found near riverbanks where this type of fish lives during its native habitat (the Amazon River basin). 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). A recommended minimum tank of 30 gallons should be provided to house the Reticulated Hillstream Loach. The best aquarists make this a habit because they know its far easier/safer to catch a level shift early on than deal with it later. Borneo suckers should be offered some vegetable matter. 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. This authoritative reference eBook will not only help you learn how to create a healthy aquatic ecosystem without accidentally killing any of your fish, but itll also give you the momentum you need to build out your underwater empire. Hillstream loaches are also prone to common freshwater diseases.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',116,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-2-multi-116{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}IchIch, otherwise known as ick or white spot disease, is characterized by a scattering of tiny white spots across the fishs body and fins.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.Skinny DiseaseSkinny disease is a common bacterial disease that causes a fish to rapidly lose weight, even if the fish appears to be eating normally. Stream loaches come in a variety of colors, although their coloring can range from reddish brown to turquoise. One interesting behavior to watch out for is when they tussle belly to belly with each other. These stripes are usually more linear on the caudal and dorsal fins. To create a natural habitat for the Tiger Hillstream Loach, aquascape with ample amounts of river rocks of varying size and shape to replicate a tumbled streambed. A hillstream loach tank can look like a lot of different things. Supplement the diet of the Reticulated Hillstream Loach with foods that sink to the bottom of the aquarium such as a high-quality flake food, sinking carnivore pellets, Hillstream Loach, also known as Reticulated Hillstream Loach, originates from Vietnam and can be found in fast-flowing waters located within Laos; Quang Ngai; Thua Thien-Hue; Binh Dinh, and Quang Nam. Get the latest information on Events,Sales and Offers. Their body is encircled by a fan of wing-like pelvic and pectoral fins. However, hillstream loaches become lonely when theyre housed alone, and a tank with enough space for six or more loaches is ideal. If their patterning and shape were not fascinating enough, their underside is something to behold. These fish do have barbels which are part of the reason why some people mistake them for a funky-looking catfish. 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. A stressed hillstream loach will lose its color. She has always been captivated by all kinds of marine life and particularly enjoys studying the effects of the external environment on the functioning marine world. What fish can live with hillstream loaches? If your Hillstream Loach is not relaxed then they will hide away. In addition to this you want to be changing the water level 25% each week to retain high water quality. The temperature, pH range, and water hardness should mimic their habitat as closely as possible. Males and females are the same size but females have a rounder body than males when viewed from above. These fish have few-to-no scales and sucker-type mouths.You can distinguish between males and females by looking at the fishs head formation.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');Males have more pronounced heads than females, while females heads run into their pectoral fins, giving the fish a round appearance.A stressed hillstream loach will lose its color. Change the water once a week to maintain the right environment for your hillstream loach.Buy a power filter that replenishes the water at least 15 times per hour to mimic the fast currents of the fishs habitat. In tanks with a good source of algae, hillstream loaches require minimal food. Hillstream loaches are fast swimmers and easily out-swim bigger fish in a shared tank. The Reticulated Hillstream Loach is a curious fish of extraordinary beauty. Hillstream loaches like the water to be a little on the colder side so that rules out a lot of tropical freshwater fish. Any kind of fish tank filter will work, as long as its appropriately sized for your aquarium and the other inhabitants can handle the flow. Butterfly Hillstream Loach - Detailed Guide: Care, Diet, and Breeding Phylum: Chordata. Hillstream Loach - Species Profile & Setup You cant generate a consistent yet non-disruptive flow of water in a tank thats tiny! There are a number of potential hillstream loach tank mates you can choose from. Common Name - Borneo Sucker, Hillstream Loach, Myer's Hillstream loach, Butterfly Pleco or Chinese Hillstream Loach. However, exposure to high water temperatures can be fatal to the fish in the long term. The Ultimate Guide to the Bamboo Shrimp (Breeding, Size, Care), Yoyo Loach Species Information: Size, Tank Mates & More, Kuhli Loach: What To Know Before Buying This Loach, The 17 Best Types of Plecos For Beginners, African Cichlid 101: Care Guide, Types, Behavior & More, The Ultimate Bumblebee Goby Care Guide: Diet, Tank Mates and More. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is a parasitic ciliate that attaches itself to the external integument of the fish. Because of this deep-dwelling lifestyle, hillstream loach care is a bit more complicated than other types of fish. Borneo Suckers (Also known as the Chinese Hillstream Loach) are small, peaceful fish growing to a maximum size of about 6cm. Their mouths arent very large! They are popular because they are one of the best-looking bottom dwellers around. Make sure the airline tubing connected to the powerhead inlet is drawing in fresh air. The hillstream loach is part of a family of calm, peaceful loachesnative to fast-moving streams and rivers in Asia. Water in the tank should be clean and well-oxygenated, with a fast flow. The Hillstream loach has a very short lifespan, which is why theyre not long-lived fish. These are versatile fish that can be kept in various aquarium setups. The first step to take is making sure your set-up supports the growth of biofilm on large surface areas. This soft green algae will act as a base diet for them, although you can add some other sources of vegetation such as kale leaves, cucumber and lettuce every now and then. Learn more. Ensure the tank has a tight lid to prevent hillstream loaches from scaling the tanks glass walls and escaping. They are small bottom-dwelling freshwater fish from Asia and there are about 500 species in 37 genera. 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. (Sewellia lineolata) Starting at $14.99. A high oxygen tank is required to keep Hillstream Loach at their best. They prefer oxygen rich water (plenty of aeration) and strong water flow from power filters. These fish are sometimes called catfish or even mini-stingray (we can assure you they are neither). Hillstream loach species are small, colorful fish that come in various colors and patterns. The water is very high in oxygen content due to the high water flow so you will need to set up a tank that replicates these conditions as closely as possible. Compatible with many smaller, peaceful fish. They look like a cross between a goldfish and a cichlid. Hillstream loaches are light brown with white spotting and dark brown or black stripes. They have dark brown-black stripes embellished with lighter cream-yellow spots and wiggles. Similarly-shaped, less dominant loaches should be avoided because these fish will be bullied by hillstream loaches.Middle- or top-dwelling fish are the most suitable tank mates for a hillstream loach because the fish wont invade the hillstream loachs space. Juvenile hillstream loaches cost $12$15 depending on the location of the buyer. You can usually buy juveniles for around $15-20. They reach the subadult status, where they are around 2-2.5 inches long, at around 7 months after hatching. Kale leaves, spinach, raw cucumber slices, zucchini, and blanched lettuce leaves are foods that can be added to the tank during feeding. Males and females are the same size but females have a rounder body than males when viewed from above.Hillstream Loaches live for up to eight years in the wild. sinking algae wafers, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex worms. The eggs incubate for a couple of weeks. The Borneo hillstream loach is a unique fish that comes from fast-moving rivers in Southeast Asia. This includes soft diatom algae, hair algae, and even black beard algae at times. The flattened body is a special adaptation that gives the Reticulated Hillstream Loach an extremely hydrodynamic shape. It can be kind of funny to observe at times. Hillstream loaches make great pets and are easy to keep. Hillstream Loach eggs are tiny and white or translucent, though some may be a little bit yellowish. They will usually be front and center attaching themselves to the side of your aquarium, or on a rock surface. You will need lighting high enough to encourage algal growth in your tank as this will serve as a food source for your Loach (40-watt tubes are ideal). Because hillstream loaches are scaleless, these fish are susceptible to skin conditions. Were huge fans of this fish because of their unique appearance and easygoing temperament. You should feed your hillstream loaches similar foods in the aquarium.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-netboard-1','ezslot_26',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-netboard-1-0');Mature aquariums with lots of algae-covered rocks offer a good food source for hillstream loaches.Kale leaves, spinach, raw cucumber slices, zucchini, and blanched lettuce leaves are foods that can be added to the tank during feeding.If there arent enough algae in the tank, you can supplement a hillstream loachs diet with algae wafers.Although hillstream loaches dont need a lot of animal protein, these fish still require meat once or twice per week.Gel fish food, frozen and thawed bloodworms, brine shrimp, marine plankton, and insect larvae are good portion sources for a hillstream loach.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_22',123,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');In tanks with a good source of algae, hillstream loaches require minimal food. This allows the loach to stay out of other fish's way and integrate into any peaceful and calm community setup. The average hillstream loach lifespan is between 8-10 years if properly taken care of. They have very little hydrodynamic drag, which means they can easily navigate strong currents while other fish struggle. To reduce aggression levels, make sure to provide more decorations or aquarium plants to block line of sight.
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