Loaches Online Forum

Under the clay-cave, I once built a feeding place for very thin Kuhli. I left a piece of acrylic glass stand out, and it looks like a porch. I am surprised how much it is visited and used -above and below- by many fish. Looks like the combination of protection and ability to look through, is quite appreciated by them. So I´m leaving it in there... it really attracts them.
Makes me think about utilizing this experience for the new tank... but the acrylic glass does not look natural enough...



A "one on one" conversation, those two btw are like Tom&Jerry.

I am no expert on hillstream loaches but I think that is a hillstream in a tank with other fish with way different needs.

Very neat and something to try...

What is Jerry? Goby?

newshound wrote:I am no expert on hillstream loaches but I think that is a hillstream in a tank with other fish with way different needs.

Sewillia may be a special case. It seems that the guy who breeds them in Ohio keeps them in a normal tank without even a powerhead... OTOH, some "normal" loaches seem to do fine in a hillstream setup. Kuhlis (if there are quiet areas) here, I know of a Striata elsewhere, probably Sids can manage this too. (I'm not suggesting anything, obviously).

mikev wrote:...What is Jerry? Goby?...

Mike, you are right Jerry "is" 3male Stiphodon and unfortunately only one female... they do lots of communicating with my sewllia-girls, and are actualy the ones that teach my too territorial sewellia some manners. Since the stiphodon are in, the Alpha-sewellia became less agressive...
Looks like there is quite some common language between sewellia and stiphodon. The Y. Nigrolineata are now also getting very active and are very close swimming touching and even lying on top of fish in there size, but sewellia and stiphodon are rather confused by it - the Y. interprete getting chased away, as part of playing -which made sewellia and stiphodon finally surrender and just put up with the Y´s.

newshound wrote:I am no expert on hillstream loaches but I think that is a hillstream in a tank with other fish with way different needs.

Hi, Newshound, the tank has different zones, the stream part is mainly used by the Y. nigrolineta (which is not a hillstream, and still needs to be feed more to handle the flow - got it a few days ago) my Sewellia´s don´t go for it ... , they don´t even sleep in the current, which other loaches do...

Even a hillstream, needs calm zones, like the natural environment has pools. So its up to fish to pick his preverence. I have a tight planted area and other calm places, many caves and slots...

wasserscheu wrote:
Hi, Newshound, the tank has different zones, the stream part is mainly used by the Y. nigrolineta (which is not a hillstream, and still needs to be feed more to handle the flow - got it a few days ago) my Sewellia´s don´t go for it ... , they don´t even sleep in the current, which other loaches do...

Same observation here for Sewellia. In their tank, the high-current resting area is liked by the Vannies, very rarely used by Sewellia, and never by Beaufortias. I have a feeling that turning off the current entirely will not bother them much...not that I can do it because of the Vannies.
Ditto for the temperature: unlike most hillstreams they don't seem to be bothered by 82F or even 84F.