Butterfly/Hillstream Loach & Fantail Goldfish

[StevePlatts1985]

I've had 4 fantail goldfish in my aquarium for about 2 months now and recently introduced my liitle friend, the butterfly loach. I'm quite concerned that when I try to feed him algae wafers, all the other buggers nip him and he doesn't get any food. He's about half the size of my goldies. Any idea about the best way to solve this? Does anyone else have this problem?

[didy]

You could try feeding the Hillsteam and then trying to keep the goldies busy with pieces of pea. I nuke them in a little water, then shell and break them up a little.

[StevePlatts1985]

Thanks. I'll give it a go, the chances are that the liile sods will still find algae more tasty. I was advised in the pet shop that goldies wouldn't go anywhere near the algae wafers... shows what they know

[didy]

Pff, goldies seem to want to eat anything and everything! :)

Mine will eat algae tabs, but it tends to make one of them a little floaty so I avoid them.

Good luck getting the HL to eat.

[Lupin]

I will recommend rehoming the poor hillie. Hillstream loaches needed a river setup to thrive. Extra oxygenation and powerful outflows are strictly and strongly recommended. Clean water as well is very important for the hillie and the goldfish are not the best tankmates around with their constant foraging for food. White cloud mountain minnows, on the other hand, will fit the bill.

Might I suggest you start producing your own algae for the hillie instead of algae wafers. Algae and microorganisms found in it are the hillstream loaches' primary diet and I often feed mine with the algae I grow.:)