View Full Version : chinese butterfly/hillstream loach
i got a hillstream loach a while ago and i can't get over how cute he/she is! i can't find any reliable sources of info on these loaches so if anyone can give some advice....please. it seems happy just sucking on everything, is there anything specific i should be feeding it? oh, and i can see its little heart beat when its on the glass, how cool!
pinkertd
10-21-2007, 7:46 AM
Go to http://www.loaches.com/
Lots of good info there.
Tasma, you will want a river manifold setup built to keep the hillstream loaches alive.:) Algae on their diet is another very important part which you should be able to produce with ease. Just place a bucket of water with smooth rocks under direct sunlight. An additional pinch of fishfood will naturally speed everything up.
austinpetemo
10-21-2007, 9:19 PM
uh what do these look like.
Lupin
10-21-2007, 10:37 PM
uh what do these look like.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/beaufortia-kweichowensis
zanytomato
10-22-2007, 12:19 PM
Wow, these guys are so cool looking!
Hi there, I just I would add that my 5 Hillstream loaches did take a little while to adjust to tank living. They do enjoy a nice current flow with cool, oxygenated water.
I have been using both 'Hikari Sinking Wafers ' for bottom feeders and 'Hikari Algae wafers' as staple foods for them. They also enjoy frozen bloodworms too. Although I have dropped sinking shrimp pellets into my tank, I have not observed them eat those yet. They also seem to enjoy 'Hikari Sinking Carnivore pellets' also.
You might not ever see yours very often if there is only one, especially if it is a recent addition. It wasn't until I bought 5 of them, and they adjusted to their new home that I started to see a more social behavior.
They also room with 5 Yoyo loaches which are very greedy eaters (who have also taken a liking to bottom feeder pellets) which I think has taught them to be more assertive when it comes to food. They can actually cover the top of the pellet/wafer which the others can't do. They don't go hungry.
If your setup will allow for it, try to add a power head pointing onto either some smooth rocks or some driftwood. At some point you should see your loach migrate to that area. AFAIK these guys are all wild caught, so mimicking a stream or some current helps them to adjust.
If you can (if you have room), try to get a few more. You can tell I like multiples of 5.
I hope everyone's info helps you out. There are a limited number of articles about them that I have read, but they all revolve around the same ideas of the river tank.
Cheers!
Tasma
10-27-2007, 10:55 AM
well unfortunately i dont have enough room in my current tropical tank, i read that they like cold water, is it true and how cold, coz then maybe i can put it in coldwater shibunkin tank? i currently bought a new pump and it is aimed directly above a rock he's always "sucking" on.
I'm just worried coz i never see him eat anything! i got special sinking algae tablets that i was told they love but the other fish really love it, especially the khuli loaches. I've seen all the other fish eat but not him, is there a way i can make sure he's getting food?
thanks for all the advice.
Tasma
silentskream
10-27-2007, 11:00 AM
yes, they would be good in the shubunkin tank if you dont think the shubunkins will mess with him.
try feeding after you turn the light off at night.. he might just be shy.
Lupin
10-27-2007, 11:24 AM
Not to me. Hillstream loaches originated from rivers where waters are fast-flowing thus driving out any possible detritus. This alone already gives us a conclusion that the water is very clean. With a shubunkin, the water is expected to deteriorate rather rapidly. And anyway, I don't think shubunkins can tolerate powerful currents that hillies do.
Tasma, I would recommend placing the hillie in a tank full of cobbles, pumps with powerful currents and temp should not exceed beyond 24 degrees Celsius. Get more hillies. They need more than just being kept singly. If you can't do this, best to return him to your lfs. Either way, the hillie is bound to live shorter than what is expected of them.
Tasma
10-27-2007, 11:57 AM
do you think the shubunkin would hurt him? so the cold water would be fine, coz its really cold, no heater at all. are there any heat requirements at all coz i can also get a heater and raise the temp slightly?
Tasma
10-27-2007, 12:00 PM
ok, well i dont mind investing in a new tank for them and getting a bunch of hillies coz they're just so **** cute!
are there any fish that would be able to tolerate the currents?
Lupin
10-27-2007, 12:16 PM
ok, well i dont mind investing in a new tank for them and getting a bunch of hillies coz they're just so **** cute!
are there any fish that would be able to tolerate the currents?
White cloud mountain minnows, rasboras and danios are suitable tankmates. A lot of them are quite tolerant of temps not falling below 20 degrees Celsius.
Lupin
10-27-2007, 12:18 PM
do you think the shubunkin would hurt him? so the cold water would be fine, coz its really cold, no heater at all. are there any heat requirements at all coz i can also get a heater and raise the temp slightly?
It's the water quality deterioration that is more of an issue than compatibility. Hillies won't do well in deteriorating water quality.
Tasma
10-27-2007, 12:29 PM
ok, thanks for all the advice! appreciate it!
keep it coming, always willing to learn more.
Lupin
10-27-2007, 12:36 PM
Tasma, if you are willing to put in efforts to make an excellent environment for your hillies, then this is for you.:) I made two for my loaches already and it's quite easy to make them.
http://www.loaches.com/articles/river-tank-manifold-design
You may be able to rub in luck if hillies eventually spawn in your tank. Sand would be a better substrate compared to gravel. Some low light plants like anubias and Java ferns are fine additions as well as smooth rocks minus rough ones.
For supply of algae, place a bucket of water under direct sunlight containing several small smooth rocks with a pinch of fishfood. This will ensure continuous and fast production of algae for the hillstream loaches. Keep alternating rocks coated with green algae.:)
Tasma
10-27-2007, 12:40 PM
how big should a tank be for about 5 hillies and maybe 3-5 other companions, and is there any way to tell the sexes of the hillies?
Lupin
10-27-2007, 12:49 PM
how big should a tank be for about 5 hillies and maybe 3-5 other companions, and is there any way to tell the sexes of the hillies?
A 20 gallons will do it. It's hard to determine the sexes as far as I know. I know Sewellia lineolata can be distinguished by their head shape but I have not learn anything at all about distinguishing sexes of Beaufortia kweichowensis.
Hillstream loach is a name shared by several species of Gastromyzon, Beaufortia, Sewellia and many more so yours may not necessarily be one species only.
Ultimately, you'll need to dig deep into several species stored here.:)
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/species-index
thanks, so i'm gonna invest in a new tank, just have to find room!
so the water manifold thingy's easy to make? coz their new home needs to be perfect. does the manifold thingy go underneath the sand? can i get ones already made?
thanks, so i'm gonna invest in a new tank, just have to find room!
so the water manifold thingy's easy to make? coz their new home needs to be perfect. does the manifold thingy go underneath the sand? can i get ones already made?
Hi Tasma.
I don't think anyone sells such setup so you're going to make one for yourself.:) And yes, it goes underneath the sand except the pipes where you stick the sponges and powerheads.