Loaches Online Forum

a.k.a. Beaufortia kweichowensis -- am I correct? Do they breed in captivity? MY LFS has small ones all the time.

Do these eat algae?

I was watching one at my LFS that is tiny -- maybe an inch. Makes the Ottos look big. I see it scooting on the filter intake looking like it is eating algae. When they are small would it exclusively eat algae? Is it a predator or an accidental live food eater? It has a small Pleco -- 2 inches in the tank with it, and it scooted up to the Pleco and nudged it with his nose. It nudged it all over it's head and then moved on. The Pleco ignored it.

It was the only one in the tank. Do they need friends?

I know they needed high oxygen and very nice water flow.

I did look at the article on the front page, but it didn't seem to directly address these things. I am just curious.

They sell for just under $11.

We had someone on here several years ago claim to have had Beaufortia spawn and even had a pic of a small one. There was no follow up so I can't say that it really happened. I have not heard any other accounts.
They do eat algae and the organisms that live in algae but soon will learn to take pellets, algae wafers, frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.
They do like the general hillstream high 02, high flow conditions.
I hope that answers your questions.

Mine eat flakes too almost exclusively besides the algae/algae based organisms.

I've tried bloodworms with mixed results. I usually have to vacuum them out...

Kevin

I am down to one Beaufortia, a large 2.5" specimen that I have had for about 7 years. His food preference leans heavily toward the frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp. I seldom see him eat pellets, algae wafers or graze algae. Another specimen I had for several years tended to prefer pellets and algae wafers.