Sewellia with attitude

[Emma Turner]

For quite some time this afternoon, a couple of my Sewellia lineolata have been acting very aggressively towards all the Schistura balteata which share the same River Tank.

One who is out in the open more than the others is being particularly fiesty. Usually these two species mind their own business, sometimes even resting peacefully next to each other. But today I have watched the Sewellia actively 'hunt out' and attack the Schisturas by swooping down/across to them and 'biting' their backs. The Schistura immediately flee to another spot, but when they come back nearer to the Sewellia in question again, it attacks again. It seems particularly aggravated if they get near a particular cobble stone.

I thought it was of interest and worth mentioning, as we don't have all that much information on this beautiful species as yet. Others who keep Sewellia (or any other hillstream loaches come to that) in with other species of loach - do you see this sort of behaviour often? It seems strange that it has started now as both have been in the tank together some time now without problems.

I couldn't manage to get near enough to the tank to take a decent photo, but here is a poor-quality quickie which shows the Schistura being stalked by the Sewellia. It 'pounced' shortly after I took this shot, but it all happens so quickly and I think I'd have to be quite lucky to get a decent shot of it.



Emma

[Gary Herring]

Hi Emma,

Thats really interesting! As you know i hav'nt had my Sewellia's long, so i might not be the best person to comment, but ive never seen or heard of any hillstream species actively hunt down and attack other fish. Territorial behaivior, yes, but it looks like this is far beyond that. Keep us informed!

Gary

[Jim Powers]

Wow, these guys sure are interesting.
The closest thing I have seen to that kind of behaviour in a hillstream was with a large beaufortia. This fish got angry with a Lepidocephalichthys guntea at feeding time and rode the thing like a horse. It scared the guntea, but no harm was done. I got a good laugh out of it too.

[Martin Thoene]

Mine are in a tank to themselves, but I've noticed that their attacks can sometimes come from a long way off. I think they have excellent eyesight and they will spot another one and zoom across the tank to hassle it. I've not seen other species do such actions. Most rushing attacks start at fairly close range.
None of mine have got into the serious action like you got that big photo sequence of before Emma.

Martin.

[Gary Herring]

Yeh, i would definatly agree that they seem to have excellant eyesight. They spot me from a mile off when i walk up to the tank.

[Jim Powers]

This makes me wonder if these beauties should be housed with other hillstreams. Do any of you that have them, keep them with other species such as the gastros or pseudogastros? It would be interesting to see how they behave with them.

[Gary Herring]

Jim,

I have 2 Sewellia lineolata in a river tank with 2 beaufortia K and 5 Gastro Ctent's, so far without any trouble at all. The usual Hillstream bickering, over rocks, etc, does occasionally occur with the Beau's, but they totally ignore the Gastro's, even when close. Im certainly going to keep an eye on them though.

[Graeme Robson]

Indeed interesting.

I wonder if she? is protecting something. You never know.

[Jim Powers]

now wouldn't that be interesting?

[Gary Herring]

That would be fantastic! fingers crossed eh Emma!

[Emma Turner]

Last night after we'd got back late from yesterday evening's fish shipments, all the aggressiveness seemed to have died down. Will keep a close eye on them to see if it happens again.

I agree that they must have excellent eyesight, as the 'attacks' were pretty long-range. The only other hillstream loaches in with them are 2 of what we thought were probably Annamia sp. from Vietnam (see http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=294). The Annamia are fairly recent additions, but so far, I have observed no signs of aggression between those and the Sewellia. Maybe their natural distribution range overlaps somewhere in Vietnam, and they are able to tolerate each other? The strange thing is that the Schistura balteata are more than capable of looking after themselves, and the Sewellia was really going for them.

Emma

[shari]

I think I'd keep an eye out for suspicious looking cavities underneath some of your rocks...

Agression often indicates protection of progeny. Also simple territory issues, but in this case, I'd watch. It WOULD be totally cool to see if they breed! But I bet unless the parent/s are as agressive as some angels or other species can be over their fry, you may not see any based on the co-inhabitants...seems many fish love caviar.