Care Guide for Hillstream Loaches – The Oddball Algae Eater
The most beautiful of all algae eaters, the Reticulated Hillstream Loaches (Sewellia Lineolata), are among the most attractive. However, there is a lot of contradicting information on their care that makes it difficult to decide whether or not to give them a try. After more than a decade of owning, selling, and breeding them, this article shares our personal experiences on how to successfully keep this amazing species.
What are Reticulated Hillsstream Loaches?
There are many types of hillstream loaches that live in similar environments, but let’s specifically discuss the reticulated hillstream loach (also known as the tiger hillstream loach or gold ring butterfly sucker) because it is one of the most common varieties available in the aquarium hobby. This 2.5-inch (6.4 cm) oddball fish looks like a miniature stingray because of its streamlined shape, flat underside, and horizontal fins that can tightly grip onto any smooth surface. The fish’s unique body has light-colored spots as well as dark brown striping patterns. During the daytime, you can often find them climbing on the glass in a side-to-side crawl or fluttering their fins on the ground while searching for food.
The hillstream loach is characterized by a highly-patterned, streamlined body. It can grip securely onto rocks and resist rapids.
Hillstream loaches were originally found in tropical areas of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. They live in river rapids and shallow riffles with slower-moving streams in the middle. Their natural habitat has a lot of rocks, and less vegetation. They are very resilient and can withstand a variety of environmental conditions, including heavy rainfall that can cause sediment to rise and fluctuating water parameters.
How to Set Up an Aquarium for Hillstream Loaches
Most of the initial research into this species says that they are a cool water fish that must be kept in a river manifold tank with fast current and high oxygenation. We have personally kept them in hot water tanks with clown loaches, unheated setups with goldfish, and even heavily planted 20-gallon tanks with gentle sponge filters – and the hillstream loaches happily thrived and bred in each of those different settings.
Make sure to use a tight-fitting aquarium hood or top because hillstream loaches can easily climb out of your aquarium.
They appreciate a stable pH, preferably between 7.0-7.8, and good water quality. Any kind of fish tank filter will work, as long as it’s appropriately sized for your aquarium and the other inhabitants can handle the flow. It is okay to keep them at 65-80degF (20-25degC), although they might be more susceptible than others to stress and illness. Also, keep a tight lid on the aquarium since they have the ability to climb up glass walls and escape. If your hillstream loach is missing, try looking in your filter because sometimes they like to crawl inside.
What fish can live with hillstream loaches? They get along with most peaceful community fish that are similarly sized and won’t fin nip them. We’ve kept them with goldfish, livebearers, shrimp, snails, tetras, danios, and other schooling fish with no problems.
Hillstream loaches are generally happy in community tanks, although the males can sometimes fight if there isn’t enough cover.
How many hillstream loaches can be kept together? Most people only get one because they’re more expensive and can cost around $15 each. We recommend getting just one or a group of three or more. If you get two, the stronger one may bully the weaker one over food or territory. Males enjoy squabbling with their partners, going round and round trying get on top of each other. But, there is no bodily harm. To reduce aggression levels, make sure to provide more decorations or aquarium plants to block line of sight.
What are Hillstream Loaches Eating?
They consume small aquatic crustaceans living at the river bottom and algae. In your aquarium, they will happily scrape off anything that grows on your fish tank walls, rocks, driftwood, and plant leaves. These include soft diatom and hair algae as well as black beard algae. You can’t feed them algae, but they won’t survive on it alone. So make sure you give them high-quality foods like Repashy gel food or sinking wafers. If you feed them well, there is a higher likelihood the adults may start breeding.
Hillstream loaches not only clean algae off flat surfaces like tank walls but also lacy leaves and uneven rocks.
How do you breed Hillstream Loaches?
When it comes to sexing hillstream loaches, the females usually have a wider head and plumper body, whereas the males have a slightly jagged silhouette at the beginning of their pectoral fins near their “shoulders.” Most of the time, juveniles are sold in the fish stores and it can be hard to sex them, so buy a group of six or more if you want to breed them.
Many people have success breeding them in an established aquarium that has lots of mulm, infusoria, algae, hiding spots, and perhaps a rock pile for the fry to dart underneath. You should ensure that both the adults and the fry have enough food. To keep the fry from becoming entangled, cover the filter with a sponge. These tiny babies love to eat vinegar eels and microworms. A breeder box can be used to protect your baby from predators and increase their chances of survival.
For more information on other fantastic algae eaters, read about our top 10 favorites that can help keep your fish tank nice and clean.
