Hillstream loaches in Pond

[ClownLoachSharky]

Hi all. I've been planning a pond 120x100x60cm lengthxwidthxdepth and was wondering if I can keep hillstreams in it. It gets to about 3 degrees Celsius at the coldest. Is this possible. Sorry I don't know much about this certain loach. Any help appreciated.

[Jim Powers]

That sounds too cold for them.

[ClownLoachSharky]

What do you think is the minimum temperature?

[Jim Powers]

It would depend on the species. The Chinese species tend to be from cooler waters than the Borneo species, for example.
I wouldn't go below 18C (65F). They might be able to handle it lower but why stress them.

[ClownLoachSharky]

Really, I would have thought the Chinese ones would be fine because in china the temps get super low.

[Jim Powers]

Maybe they would, but I just don't know for sure. There is not much info out there about the native habitat of some of these fish from people who have actually caught them in their native waters. I would love to know more.

[surgeon]

You could easily find out. you just need to find one location they live naturally and then look up the temperature history on the web. Just assume that if your homes temperature history is the same it'll be pretty good. 3C sounds low though! I know goldfish can survive that but dang they be tough!

BTW China is pretty big. Temperatures there would vary a lot depending on if its the southern or northern bits.

[ClownLoachSharky]

Yea, it rarely reaches that low at night time. It dosent get too here in aus compared to other places so they should be
Fine. I could also add a heater during winter.