Hillstream loaches?

[Dragon.queen13]

Am working on setting up a 29 for hillstream loaches. I am new to this species, so any help would be appreciated. Am planning on using a powerhead along with a bubbler, and am wondering if this is enough oxygen, not enough, etc. Advice? Suggestions? Thank you!

 

[Dragonwolf]

I'm not real sure, but I would think it would be enough. I guess it all depends on the size of the powerhead being used. Check out this link. There is a lot of information about the Hillstream Loaches and it even gives you designs on how to create a "River Tank" to more completely create their natural habitat in a tank.

Hillstream Loaches - The Specialists at Life In The Fast Lane — Loaches Online

 

[Autumnsky]

Only have one of these, but he seems to be doing great. He is in the 72G with a Fluval FX-5 so there is tons of flow. My fish store guy says need good clean water some flow. Established stable tank. Live plants are good too.

Mine eats Hikari (omnivoire) sinking wafers, has nice size wafers (orange labe) and the Reticulated Hillstream Loach will shimmy next to a big fish to get one!

Usually on its nice big smooth rock, or sampling other rocks or the glass. As it seems to be doing well I hope to keep adding them to the tank, but at $15. each I will probably do one every month or two, to get a nice group.

 

[redsea]

Welcome to Aquarium Advice! Enjoy!

 

[Autumnsky]

Oh yeah, So excited about the HSL I missed it was your first post!!!

 

[Mcor]

Only have one of these, but he seems to be doing great. He is in the 72G with a Fluval FX-5 so there is tons of flow. My fish store guy says need good clean water some flow. Established stable tank. Live plants are good too.

Mine eats Hikari (omnivoire) sinking wafers, has nice size wafers (orange labe) and the Reticulated Hillstream Loach will shimmy next to a big fish to get one!

Usually on its nice big smooth rock, or sampling other rocks or the glass. As it seems to be doing well I hope to keep adding them to the tank, but at $15. each I will probably do one every month or two, to get a nice group.

$15 dollars a pop!?! Madness! Mine was about £3. Wonder why they are so expensive stateside!?

 

[DavidAl]

Hillstream loaches will do best in cool water in a manifold-type setup with several powerheads on one end of the manifold. Add lots of river stones so they can station themselves.

David

 

[Autumnsky]

$15 dollars a pop!?! Madness! Mine was about £3. Wonder why they are so expensive stateside!?

This is for Reticulated, the grey ones (don't know name) were $9.99. I haven't seen them around at any other local stores. This store is in Boulder, Colorado, and is usually a bit more expensive than if at a different store, so maybe $11.99 instead. But haven't seen them. Shipping is expensive too, so it averages out, unless I could get a small bunch at a time.

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[Dragonwolf]

Reticulated and spotted hillstream loaches are $13 each at The Wet Spot here in Portland. You can get 3 Reticulated for $30.

 

[Autumnsky]

Reticulated and spotted hillstream loaches are $13 each at The Wet Spot here in Portland. You can get 3 Reticulated for $30.

That would be great! lol

 

[Luananeko]

Wet Spot does ship, just go to their website (Home ) and email them. Their prices online are actually cheaper than if you walk into the store.

What temp will you be keeping the tank at? You should have enough current if you're keeping them nice and cool, but if you're at the upper end of their temperature range you really need to go overboard on the powerheads and current (ie: as close to a full riverbed manifold setup as you can) or they just randomly die on you after 6 months or so.

 

[Dragon.queen13]

I will be paying about $12 each, maybe a little less cuz I do a bit of free advertising for our LFS

 

[Dragon.queen13]

And I won't be using a heater unless it is absolutely needed.

 

[Autumnsky]

Here's a pick of my guy on the smooth rock. Also likes a smooth piece of driftwood!

That seems a fair price around here. It would be nice to see a group of maybe 4-6.

Which kind are you looking at getting?

 

[Coursair]

My clubmember has at least 2 species in a 60g with 2 powerheads and over filtration , live plants and lots of rocks. Her Siwellias are captive bred.

She puts rocks in a bowl of water in the sun to grow Algae for them. Plus I got her started on Rapashy gel food. It's dry powder that you add water to and you end up with gel food. Great for them and they LOVE it !!

 

[Autumnsky]

My clubmember has at least 2 species in a 60g with 2 powerheads and over filtration , live plants and lots of rocks. Her Siwellias are captive bred.

She puts rocks in a bowl of water in the sun to grow Algae for them. Plus I got her started on Rapashy gel food. It's dry powder that you add water to and you end up with gel food. Great for them and they LOVE it !!

Did rocks like that before long ago and forgot about that. I used a clear jar with some house plant starts in the sunshine of the kitchen window, and used tank water for the water.

Great ideas for mine too, I love this place!!!