Loaches Online Forum

I’ve described my Alpha-Sewellia (“Centerline”) already before, as “over-territorial”. She was sweet, at times “her man” was still above her in hierarchy. The day I lost him, she turned into a rocket. That she still is, also in the new setup. However, the Stiphodon remained in the old tank. He was teaching her manners. One day Sewellia had a quarter of her dorsal missing, I guess she was pushing it too far and Stiphodon may have made use of his kind of teeth (I’m only suspecting, examining alive stiph´s, I guess they can bite …).

Sewellias, in my oppinion, need a lot of space.

Centerline getting ready to get onto him ...



Stiphodon fighting for his rights



Sewellia with wounded dorsal



Since that supposed bite, she was molestring others much less in the old tank. Now the Stiphodon in the new setup are larger and don’t get into quarrels.

So she molesters Striatas, especially defending cantaloupes. She gets them on the ground – little pistol





While lights off, I found Garra Flavatra fighting with Sewellia. I’ve watched some quarrel that Sewellia started before, but Garra always ignored it so far, this time one of the Garras is showing her, that Garras are not taken all the beating…

Sorry about the reflections, I´m glad I was fast enough with the camera to catch them at all, without chasing them away…



Regarding the reflections

- No I don´t smoke. The lighter was used to lighten the acetone-tissues after cleaning the glass from glue… (made a nice cosy campfire in my empty spaghetti plate, to get romantic with my loaches... )

- No I´don’t knit. This is my universal tool.

- Yes, I like choclate ( a little too much )

Red handed indeed lol!

I havent studied hillies much yet but seem to recall sewellia often mentioned being a bit more aggressive. I am wondering since I would really like to setup a hillstream tank if they would or would not be a good choice for a 40g long (same dimensions as 55g but 4" shorter in height). I think they are one of the nicest looking as well as there is a local hobbyist here who sells there tank bred ones.

Nice Sewellia and Stiphodon. LOL..I was planning to get Sewellias at the first chance if I see them but..the aggression alone will drive other tankmates insane.

Well captured!!

Blue wrote:Nice Sewellia and Stiphodon. LOL..I was planning to get Sewellias at the first chance if I see them but..the aggression alone will drive other tankmates insane.

I don´t think they would drive other tankmates insane, they just are a little pushy. They do have a very nice charme, they are not really Grrr... but pushy.

In my case an alpha developed and it´s only the leader who is pushing others. The other Sewellia are sweet. Once the leader is not there anymore, one of the sweet ones turns into alpha and gets pushy.

I have added a new, little smaller male and to my surprise, the female alpha and the new male are seen more often with only 1 or 2" distance between them. That was rare before. As mine maintained territories within the group.

That is interesting my hillies never bother the other tank mates.

The mess with each other all the time. What is really funny is watching the baby hillies go after the adults.

These days I´ve whatched "Her" getting all over a larger Stiphodon (finally). The Goby was rather surprised and confused than alerted. I had the feeling, he could not decide whether to enjoy the extra attention, or need to bother to defend himself.
She was without male for a while, possibly she goes after every testosteron smelling fish ... no, its mainly at feeding and it´s almost cute, but still not very nice. On the other hand, it avoids boredom of the "inmates "

Talk about every pic telling a story , great stuff Wasserscheu .