Hillstream Loaches

[tekonus]

Hey guys, I've got a pair of hillstreams in my 33g, and they are my favorite. I haven't heard too many others talk about them, though! Is anyone else a fan? I'm curious how others peoples act, as each of mine has a different personality. One is very reclusive except during feeding time (he usually hanged out sucked on the glass behind the heater), the other can usually be found sucked right to the front of the glass. What do yours eat? I know they eat the awfucs (sp?) in algae, but mine over time like my flake food and things like bloodworms more and more. Feel free to post some pics of yours if you have em!

[vanillarum]

Do you mean sewellia lineolata (reticulated hillstream loach) ? I have a dozen in my 46 gal community tank. They even bred for me a while back, although only 2 survived (that I can SEE anyway !) They are pretty cool. Here's a coupla pics of mine:
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_2883.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/campinkru/IMG_2845.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww236/dfgeary3/IMG_2512.jpg

[tekonus]

That would be them, although the black in mine isn't quite as dark as yours are in those pics.

[Jeremy Smith]

You may want to check on your tank conditions as these have some what specific needs.

[Lupin]

Tekonus, you were talking about aufwuches, microorganisms that indeed harbor the algae. They do eat those including algae itself implying these are omnivores, not strictly herbivores as most people would think. Unfortunately for us, hillstream loaches are one of the underrated species but also one of the most abused regarded as "algae eater" when they are more than that. Due to the impression that these are plecos, most setups they are housed into, are not appropriate for them in the long run. These are best kept in specialized river setups where the water is cool not more than 76 degrees Fahrenheit as well as well oxygenated, and also fast flowing as this is how they relax themselves. Mine would eat bloodworms, commercial pellets, diatoms, green algae, etc.

[tekonus]

My tank sits at 78 degrees at most, even on a hot day. My Dual AC50's in a 33g provide plenty of flow, though they don't tend to hang out in the flow anyway as far as I've noticed. I also feed my tank a variety of foods. They go nuts for the Omega One Veggie Rounds and they will zoom around to grab up the Omega One Ciclid Flakes too. Yes, mine tend to eat bloodworms too, I feed them once a week as a treat.

[bitbot]

Far be it from my humble self to correct Lupin, But I believe it is 'aufwuchs'.

(And I would love to keep these guys, but I don't have the tank setup for them. Hope yours do well.)

[tekonus]

Here's a crappy phone pic of mine during feeding time. The MTS go nuts for the veggie rounds too! lol

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1368&pictureid=12800

[jpappy789]

Definitely getting my hand on some in the future...I'd like a group of Gastromyzon ocellatus personally :drool:

[fishorama]

They look like this to me http://www.loaches.com/species-index/beaufortia-kweichowensis. Good luck with them!

[Lupin]

Nancy is correct. These are indeed Beaufortia kweichowensis.:)

[James0816]

I pass these guys up every time I go to the LFS. I don't have adequate current for them. I have thought about putting in a power head though.

[kianna]

I have a couple......Gastromyzon ctenocephalus I think (they were only listed as Hillstream Loach at the lfs). Very shy at first and now eating anything and everything. I love the blue fins. Would like a couple more now that I've had them a while but I don't find them often locally.

Heres a really bad pic of mine that really doesn't do them justice.

[Phosaurus]

I have a couple......Gastromyzon ctenocephalus I think (they were only listed as Hillstream Loach at the lfs). Very shy at first and now eating anything and everything. I love the blue fins. Would like a couple more now that I've had them a while but I don't find them often locally.

Heres a really bad pic of mine that really doesn't do them justice.

Those are gorgeous!:D Ive seen a variety of them at my local pet shop labeled as Hong Kong Pleco for $5 each but nothing like those blue fins. I wish I had the space and tank for them...:laugh:

[Inka4040]

The ctenocephalus are super cool! I'm trying to get my hands on some gastro. cheni. As far as their "need" for high flow conditions, dude at brianstropicals.com has had great luck breeding sewellia lineolata in tanks with not much more than a sponge filter, and has also reported much greater survivability of the fry in these low flow conditions, so as long as their needs for high dissolved oxygen content is met, the flow issue is probably far less important than it's made out to be.

[jpappy789]

Those are some beautiful gastros!!! :D:D:D