Sewellia sp. "spotted" in Modesto

[fain]

I dropped by my lfs yesterday and was shocked to find a tank full of what looked like Sewellia sp. "spotted". They are listed as 'hillstream loaches' so I'm not certain that they are Sewellia, but they are definitely lovely! I'd scoop these up in a heartbeat but I don't have a river tank.

In case anyone is in the area and does have a river tank, the store is Tropical Haven in Modesto, CA.

[Jim Powers]

That's interesting. I've only seen them as contaminants with Sewellia lineolata.

[plaalye]

You don't need a river tank. They seem to do well as long as there's some water movement and good oxygenation... plenty of algae to graze.

I've seen them here on several occassions in a tank of their own sold as sewellia spotted sp., but not lately. Compare what you saw with these also.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/ga ... nocephalus
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/be ... ichowensis

[fain]

I took a look at the other two you mentioned, and I still think that these looked more like Sewellia sp. If I get the chance, I might go back to take pictures. After all, I'm basing this all on what I remember seeing several days ago.

Not needing a river tank setup? Oh dear, that is tempting...

[fain]

I took another good look at them yesterday and I am pretty darn sure that they are Sewellia sp. 'spotted' now. Adorable little critters! Much to my delight, another customer had noticed them and seemed to have a good understanding of what they were. Better idea then the gals who manage the tanks at least.

Most of them are gone now, only a third of the original batch remain, but it is still a sizable amount. $4 a loach is pretty good around here, and hillstreams are not regularly stocked so I can see why they are going fast. If luck permits, I may set up a species tank for them in the future. They really are beautiful in person.