Giving them a place to hide will help them feel comfortable and greatly reduce their stress levels. To prevent injury and allow for easy digging, choose a fine gravel or sand substrate.Small pebbles and medium-sized smooth rocks are good tank additions. Hillstream loaches feed on biofilm, algae, aufwuchs, and the occasional insect larvae in the wild. 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). To prevent predatory fish from eating the eggs and fry, use a separate aquarium for breeding purposes only. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is often surprising to people, given this Loachs small size. You can usually buy juveniles for around $15-20. The male hillstream loach will then put together a nest by digging and sorting through the substrate. You should also place smooth pebbles or rocks on top of the substrate. This is a territorial behavior done by the males to establish a territory. Change the water once a week to maintain the right environment for your hillstream loach. Author Note: Make sure you dont give them flakes or pellets that are too large. It can be kind of funny to observe at times. Customer Favorites, Marine Invertebrates - Save 25%, Popular Value Packs, Marine Invertebrates, LiveAquaria Certified Captive Grown Corals, Captive-Bred Freshwater Fish and Invertebrates. The temperature, pH range, and water hardness should mimic their habitat as closely as possible. *FREE SHIPPING on qualifying aquatic life orders $229 and up. Males are usually larger than females and often display stronger colouration. Some have spots on their fins that may be orange or red as well! Their diet consists primarily of other fish, so they make great pets for experienced aquarists who want something different than standard goldfish or tetras. Not only will they serve as a good place to get some privacy, but theyll improve the water quality! 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. . 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. Temperature range: 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This fish is common in the wild and can be seen swimming in strong currents, gliding over smooth rocks, and climbing vertical surfaces. Hillstream loach care is a fairly simple and stress-free process. We recommend getting just one or a group of three or more. With the right diet and water quality, hillstream loaches live in captivity for ten years or more.AvailabilityHillstream loaches are classed as vulnerable in the wild because the fishs habitat is being destroyed by human destruction. Buy It Now +$18.00 shipping. Hillstream Loach are members of the family Balitoridae. Reading this will make you ready to purchase one yourself! Borneo hillstream loach Care Guide: Diet, Tank Mates, Diseases 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. There arent any big challenges you have to deal with when it comes to hillstream loach care, just maintain the appropriate water levels and theyll be good to go! Catfish generally are excellent tankmates for a wide variety of other species of fish. Most hillstream loaches spend the daylight hours latched onto the side of the tank or searching for something to eat. These fish are sometimes called catfish or even mini-stingray (we can assure you they are neither). A crowded tank will cause the fish to harass each other over food and space. If he proves himself, shell indicate that shes interested by staying nearby him instead of going on about her business. 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. In your aquarium, they will happily scrape off anything that grows on your fish tank walls, rocks, driftwood, and plant leaves. 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. They are useful in maintaining algae levels whilst also getting along with many tropical free-swimming fish. Something else you should consider adding to their tank is a series of smooth rocks. They are brown with beautiful dark brown and white mosaic-like markings on their bodies. Hillstream Loach: Ultimate Guide (Care, Diet, Breeding & More) Theres no guarantee that theyll like it, but if they do it will provide them with a solid mix of additional vitamins and nutrients. They are found in the wild in limestone caves and can be identified by their small size (they're only about 3 inches long), black skin coloration, large eyes, and an orange stripe on their bodies. But they dont just look really neat, theyre also quite easy to keep. The gentle nature of this fish means they really wont want to get in the way of others. Despite having specific water requirements, hillstream loaches are beautiful, helpful additions to a home aquarium. They have a very busy pattern that covers their entire bodies (including their fins). The Reticulated Hillstream Loach is a curious fish of extraordinary beauty. They tend to stay by themselves and are just fine on their own. 3 Reticulated Hillstream Loach(Sewellia lineolata) Live Fish 2Day Fedex Shipping. In the wild, these fish feed on a variety of small insects and . Move the fry to your main aquarium when the fry are large enough to be left alone by big fish. The Hillstream Loach is perfect for a sandy-bottom tank stocked with peaceful fish. Your Hillstream Loach will also appreciate the extra hiding spots. In the wild the Hillstream Loach lives in very fast-flowing rivers in humid, subtropical Asian rainforests. These fish are omnivores and spend most of their time in the wild scavenging and looking for anything suitable to nibble on. You can also feed them: You should avoid sinking pellets or flakes as the structure of their mouths will not allow the consumption of these foods. This streamlined body shape helps the Reticulated Hillstream Loach navigate (or stay put) in very strong currents with minimal effort. They require a lot of room, water, and food to live comfortably. Suitable materials to use for hiding places include wood, rocks, slate, clean plastic pipe, and aquatic plants. Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Myer's Hillstream loach, Chinese Hillstream Loach, Sucker-Belly Loach. Algae and other food items growing on or encrusting the river rock is an essential food source that offers beneficial foraging activity. Although most are from the family Balitoridae, this loach is of the order Cypriniform and the superfamily Cobitoidea, which is split into a further 8 groups, Sewellia lineolata is from the Gastromyzontidae family. Aquarium Volume Calculator: How Many Gallons Is Your Tank? Feed the fry when they hatch.Leave adult hillstream loaches in the tank if the fry is at least 5 mm long. Hillstream loaches are very peaceful fish that want to mind their own business. After more than a decade of owning, selling, and breeding them, this article shares our personal experiences on how to successfully keep this amazing species. In addition to this 25% water changes should be made weekly, plus weekly substrate siphoning. If you see them making a nest then there is a chance the female will release her eggs into the nest and if this occurs, the male will fertilize the eggs with milt. You can also feed them high protein foods such as Brine Shrimp to get them ready to mate. Diet - carnivorous. However, the standard water parameters are pretty much the same as most other freshwater fish species. Initially, they were the only species in the genus Sewellia, but there have been numerous additions since then including S.marmorata. The fins are usually brown or blackish in color. The appearance of the Hillstream Loach is what makes them so attractive to many in the fishkeeping hobby. The hillstream loach has a highly patterned and streamlined body that is built to grip tightly onto rocks and withstand rushing rapids. They get along with most peaceful community fish that are similarly sized and wont fin nip them. The Hillstream Loach is a very peaceful community fish that often keeps to itself due to its small size and bottom-dwelling nature. The best tank mates for hillstream loaches are listed below. Hillstream loaches are part of a family that includes rainbowfish, molly fish, and oddball members. This is a type of loach that has hydrodynamic characteristics, such as a smooth body (their scales are tiny), depressed . They look like a small stingray and have a remarkably streamlined body. Youll also want to aim for a water change once a week to keep the quality high. They were introduced into the aquarium hobby in the mid-2000s and quickly became one of the most popular Loaches around. Charlene is currently a third-year student, studying Marine biology. These Loaches can peacefully fill in that space at the bottom of your tank. Hillstream Loaches have developed a suction mechanism using their pectoral and pelvic fins which allows them to stick to rocks and the glass of aquariums whilst simultaneously feeding on algae. Add a loach-safe antibacterial treatment to the tank to treat skinny disease.Fungal InfectionFungal infections are characterized by fluffy, white growths on the affected fishs head, body, and fins. While caring for these fish in the home aquarium, you can follow the instructions to maintain the water parameters that are suitable for them. The tank should be long and rectangular, giving your hillstream loach plenty of surface area to explore along the bottom of the tank. Something that cant be swallowed by the fish is recommended. Some of the most suitable plants for a hillstream loach tank are water wisteria, java moss, dwarf aquarium lily, and crinum. It has a streamlined shape, smooth body, wing-like pelvic and pectoral fins, and flat underside. The trick to keeping these fish happy and healthy is to invest in test kits due to their sensitivity to changing water parameters. A group of 4 will need at least 80 gallons. The substrate should be sand, fine gravel ornaments, and plants with roots. In addition to this you want to be changing the water level 25% each week to retain high water quality. The hillstream loach is popular for its appearance. When you look at the underside of this fish youll notice that they have a sucker mouth and a flattened belly. You will need to invest in a powerful filtration pump, ideally one that can pump and replenish your water more frequently than 15 times per hour. If this happens you can prevent aggression by providing plenty of space for them to establish their own territories with lots of hiding spots. Hillstream loaches are difficult to breed. Make sure you perform regular water tests with a test kit to ensure that these levels are holding true. A female hillstream loach will become round and full-bodied during the breeding season.Typical BehaviorAs one of the most peaceful species of fish, the hillstream loach is suitable for community tanks and rarely shows signs of aggression.Male hillstream loaches can be territorial and occasionally engage in belly-to-belly fights.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1-0');Hillstream loaches are fast swimmers and easily out-swim bigger fish in a shared tank.These fish are naturally social and inquisitive, but hillstream loaches are shy around humans and will hide behind plants or inside caves when they sense human presence.When a hillstream loach becomes comfortable in its environment, the fish will stick to walls and rocks in the tank, eating algae off these surfaces.Hillstream Loach CareAdvertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_12',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-115{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}Hillstream loaches are easy to care for as long as these fish live in the right water parameters.Replicating the fast-flowing currents in the hillstream loachs natural environment will prevent the fish from becoming stressed.As grazers and omnivores, hillstream loaches eat a diet of algae, biofilm, fish food, and live foods.DiseaseBecause hillstream loaches are scaleless, these fish are susceptible to skin conditions. All catfish, except members of Malapteruridae (electric catfish), possess a strong, hollow, bonified leading ray on their dorsal and pectoral fins, through which a stinging protein can be delivered if the fish is irritated. These fish dont need a lot of attention as long as you have their tank and water conditions right. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Only registered users can write reviews. Reticulated hillstream loaches (Sewellia lineolata) are one of the coolest-looking algae eaters, but theres a lot of conflicting information about their care requirements that makes people hesitant to try them. Hillstream Loach (Sewellia lineolata): Ultimate Care Guide Hillstream Loach - Habitat, Care, Feeding, Tank Size, Breeding Hillstream Loach (A Complete Care Guide) - AquariumStoreDepot Their bodies are built perfectly to deal with fast currents. Theyre also inexpensive compared to other types of aquarium fish species. Its quite common to see all of your hillstream loaches attached to the glass of your tank without a care in the world. Other objects like driftwood and various decorations can make nice compliments to the tank too. It takes two weeks before the fry will hatch and when they do you should feed them infusoria, microworms, powdered fry food or baby brine shrimp straight away. We prefer to stick with a combination of plants and smooth rocks but dont hesitate to do a little decorating! If the fish successfully mate, the female will release her eggs into the nest, and the male will fertilize the eggs with a fluid known as milt. However, hillstream loaches become lonely when theyre housed alone, and a tank with enough space for six or more loaches is ideal.The tank shouldnt house aggressive fish species that are larger than hillstream loaches. If you have ever owned a goldfish, then you probably recognize the Streamer Loach. 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. But they prefer live foods such as insects & small crustaceans. They are reasonably hardy which means you do have some wiggle-room, but its best to keep them in water with the following levels. Their flat body is covered in small scales that are distributed over their body in an even pattern. 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. Their mouths arent very large! Sewellia lineolata is currently considered vulnerable under the IUCN redlist primarily due to habitat destruction. They will require plenty of space and food, and their small size makes them hard to keep in an aquarium. Join our newsletter today. This will prevent them from getting cut or scratched when navigating your tank. However, exposure to high water temperatures can be fatal to the fish in the long term. Many of the species are popular for aquaria, species in the genus Sewellia are most commonly sold in the . What fish can live with hillstream loaches? Hillstream loaches are endemic to Southeast Asia and Australia, where most people have never heard of them. Hillstream loaches are omnivores so they will eat both meaty foods like pellets as well as vegetables such as snails & worms. Smooth caves, old pieces of driftwood, and clay ornaments are good hiding places for hillstream loaches to hide. Youll want to keep in mind their natural habitat when planning out their tank setup. Like all fish, this lifespan range can be impacted quite a bit depending on the level of care they receive. Balitorids are really interesting fish to watch. 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.

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