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Butterfly Hillstream Loach kept in coldwater?
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:30 pm
by Corbin
I have a weather loach tank and i was wondering if its possible to keep a hillstream loach in it? would it be to cold? im not sure on the exact temp right now, but it was anywhere between 65-70F, but that was in the fall so i guess it would be alot colder now.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:45 pm
by chris1932
How is this tank set up? You need to have quite a bit of flow for almost any Hillstream loach. What kind of Hillstream are you thinking of getting? I keep my river tank at around 70-74. I really need some more in depth information before arbitrarily making a suggestion.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:03 pm
by Corbin
well its a 33gal right now. been thinking about upgrading it since i have quite a few weather loaches and im gonna breed them in the summer. probley gonna get a 55+. you can see in my sig whats in there. there isnt much flow the way i have it set up but that can eazily be changed in 3 seconds. just let me know what other info you need
p.s. i really like the Butterfly Hillstream.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:09 pm
by brett_fishman
not sure about the firebelly toads, but i know that weather loaches like flow in their tanks via a powerhead..
hillstreams demand high flow and aeration in the tank..
the butterfly hillstream you speak of is probably the
Beaufortia Kweichowensis...read up!!
are you sure that the toads are 100% safe to keep with aquarium fish?? i know that they produce toxins to detour predators, i'd think that they'd poison the water they are in as well..but i dont know..
-brett.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:17 pm
by Corbin
no its fine they have all been living together for over 2 years.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:19 pm
by Corbin
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:53 pm
by Martin Thoene
Corbin, welcome to Loaches Online.
That 33 gallon set up like that is totally unsuitable for the weather loaches you have. They need vastly more water available than that.
See the profile here:
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/we ... licaudatus
Also, even with current, it is no good for hillstream loaches. Read here and you'll see why:
http://www.loaches.com/articles/hillstr ... -fast-lane
The tank is great I'm sure for the Fire-belly toads, but it is not fair to keep fish in such a setup unless they are really small ones.
You need a minimum 4 foot tank, with full water depth available for the weather loaches and the sort of current that hillstreams require would be too much for the weather fish.
Martin.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:45 pm
by brett_fishman
corbin,
thanks for that link, i've been looking for a local fish forum!!
i will have to agree with martin on this, your tank is far too shallow for 5 weather loaches...im not sure even a FULL 33 gallon would be large enough to house 5 weather loaches and 2 toads!!
-brett.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:58 pm
by Corbin
yeah i know, it is to small
i got the other 4 loaches in a really great deal so i couldnt say no, i was orginaly just 1. im gonna make it a full aquatic as soon as i get a stand that can hold the weight, but the water parameters are totaly fine and the fish show no stress and seem to be enjoying it, 3 of the loaches are only 2 inches the other 2 are about 4. the tank is 36" (3feet) i could line up atleast 10+ of the loaches from one end to another, thats how small they are.
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:40 am
by mistergreen
Corbin, did you say that your plants are java ferns? they can survive out of water?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:03 am
by Corbin
mistergreen wrote:Corbin, did you say that your plants are java ferns? they can survive out of water?
yes they can survive out of water as long as the roots are in the water, they grow HUGE Quick out of water here is a pic of my smallest java fern
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:02 am
by mistergreen
hmmm.. i ask because I have java ferns here that have grown large enough to stick out of the water but the part that sticks out dries up.
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:10 am
by Corbin
well my tank is almost completly sealed so the humidity builds up so it stays moist and there is no heat in the tank what so ever.
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:33 am
by mistergreen
interesting.. so it's pretty humid in there.
java ferns are slow growing but mine is a monster. It's over 14 inches tall. it's also 6-7 years old.
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:16 am
by Corbin
the ones i have are 12inchs tall and the main one is 2 years old but the rest are pretty new but grow quick, i think its cuz its pretty much sealed so animals use the o2 and release co2 for the plants. i started from 1 4x4 java fern now i have 4 tanks filled with it & it all came from this tank