Bottom dwellers/Suckers stock

Dwarf Puffers

Dwarf Puffers

Registered user
Dec 11, 2006
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NS, Canada
After changing around my decor, over half of my tank is bare, and the fish adore the new hiding spaces. My hillstream loach spends more time on the sand than on the glass, and my pleco is really enjoying himself. The cories are everywhere, too.

Since I know that loaches need groups, I think I'll pick up 2 more next time I can (it's a long drive). I know I should get more, but they cost 15-20$ each, so I'm pretty helpless. Since Osama (the pleco) has been out so much, I've developped a little sadness at seeing him alone, with the only thing to socialize with is the little loach, who sometimes shares a coconut with Osama. I've been planning on getting a few more otos for my lonely guy too, especially since he's been out and about a lot more lately :thumbsup:

So, I'll try to get a couple of hillstream loaches and a clown pleco next trip. I can pick up otos (probably the healthiest Wal-Mart fish) locally and cheaply, so I want 3 more of them. Here's what I want to have as my bottom stock, eventually:

2 clown plecos
3 hillstream loaches
10 peppered cories
4 otos

So my questions are: Does this seem like too much? Should I get more otos than that? Should I be keeping the loaches in a tank with mid seventies water (although he loves the heater)? My stock is in my sig. Just so you know, the white clouds are being moved to another tank.
 
Hillstream loaches do prefer cooler water with LOTS of water movement- some of them come from areas where the river/stream is running at over 1m/second, at least at some times of the year; they're also supposed to be more dependent on algae than a lot of other "algae eaters". I'm not sure they're as social as other loaches because of the environment they come from.

I'd say your stocking level on your wish list is probably about right if you don't add other fish (although you've not got the dimensions- I'm unclear as to what dimensions a 75g US tank is) slightly toward the top level but sustainable. My 4'X1'X18" (32 UK gallons) has 20 Brochis in it, but that's only because they bred last year- I only bought 3... (about 12 would be about right).
 
Carp37 said:
Hillstream loaches do prefer cooler water with LOTS of water movement- some of them come from areas where the river/stream is running at over 1m/second, at least at some times of the year; they're also supposed to be more dependent on algae than a lot of other "algae eaters". I'm not sure they're as social as other loaches because of the environment they come from.
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Hillies like to interact with each other as much as they depend heavily on algae. The algae supply won't really run out if you try a bucket of water with plenty of small white rocks placed under sunlight. A pinch of fishfood will allow fast algal growth. I've done this before for my hillies.:) The other option is to employ high lighting to your tank. You'll wonder why some loach tanks have very high lighting which may appear unusual to some people especially if not heavily planted.

DP, I'd add more hillies if I were you. Perhaps 5-7. Temp should not however exceed 26 degrees Fahrenheit or they'd really turn darker in color. If you can provide an area with powerful flows, they will appreciate it provided you limit the flow for the cories to swim well.
 
Lupin said:
Hillies like to interact with each other as much as they depend heavily on algae. The algae supply won't really run out if you try a bucket of water with plenty of small white rocks placed under sunlight. A pinch of fishfood will allow fast algal growth. I've done this before for my hillies.:) The other option is to employ high lighting to your tank. You'll wonder why some loach tanks have very high lighting which may appear unusual to some people especially if not heavily planted.

DP, I'd add more hillies if I were you. Perhaps 5-7. Temp should not however exceed 26 degrees Fahrenheit or they'd really turn darker in color. If you can provide an area with powerful flows, they will appreciate it provided you limit the flow for the cories to swim well.
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I'd bow to Lupin's judgement on these- they're so specialised I've never dared trying them, although I still don't think they're as social as "normal" loaches.
 
Hmm, I don't think I can afford 5-7 of them... Maybe 4, but that's going to be 75$ after tax. I guess I'm keeping the white clouds in the tank. I'm going to search for ways to add flow...

lymabean said:
I've read that clown plecos can be territorial/agressive towards other plecos. If you are going to get it, get it the opposite sex.
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That's what I had wanted to do, in case I wanted to breed them.
 
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