(edit) not rainbow, Butterfly Pleco

[Torrean]

I was in wallmart today and I saw what looked like a 2 inch ray. I saw them with goldfish and tropicals so I asked what there temp range was. They said they could live in cold or tropical tanks. They also said they get to about 3.5". Umm whatelse. Oh yeah the paper that came with them said they were hillstream loaches. Does anyone know anything about these fish as I thought they were really cool. Don't really want to buy one from Wall-mart but if I see them somewhere else I might grab one.

I'm really wanting to know if they will eat algae.

 

[smithrc]

use the search - there is loads of threads on here about them...

one more now too

 

[littlefishie]

Hillstream loach.

 

[wrs]

butterfly plecos are hill stream loaches! I have never seen them EVER! Even if they wore at walmart I would buy them.

 

[Torrean]

thanks guys. I did a search on tff on them and tey are hillstream loaches. I'd really like to buy one. I doubt they will still have them the next time I go in though.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

keep in mind, they need lots of oxygen. thus they won't do so well in a overstocked tropical tank unless you can get some serious aeration going.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

make sure you have more than enough oxygen. mine died within 2 days cause the water didnt have enough oxygen.

 

[Torrean]

thanks very much. I am planning on getting a 55 gallon soon but I'd like to get one before they sell out if i'm going to get one. I have 2 bubble stones and an external filter in my 29 so yes I assume there is plenty of oxygen in the water. My main question is still, will they eat algae. If not then I'm not VERY interested. They are cool looking fish but Algae is building up and I need a replacement for pleco. Thinking of Otos.

 

[morgan]

I have a Hillstream Loach, sold as a Butterfly plec. They are nice little fish. I have never seen mine eat, but there is plenty of food and some algae. It stays attached to the glass or the internal filter housing 99% of the time. It's mouth seems to be working all the time (not gasping, there is plenty of aeration) so it must be eating little bits off the glass. Hope you manage to get one.

 

[CFC]

These are NOT tropical fish and should not be kept in heated tanks. Treat them as you would fancy goldfish by keeping them at room temperature and providing pleanty of aeration. The also like a strong current so a powerhead or two placed at one end of the tank will be highly appreciated.

 

[sylvia]

Like CFC said, don't get one of these if what you want is a tropical community. They do best in a specialised set-up with very fast-flowing water, cold temperature and lots of large rounded river rocks to graze algae off of. I haven't had the chance to yet but I've thought about getting some of these with some kind of minnow and maybe mosquito fish. A big, well-aerated tank with several powerheads is best. I was thinking a sand bottom with some large river rocks and a few plants for decoration would look nice.

 

[wrs]

Would these would be able to live with goldfish?

 

[Lateral Line]

They naturally come from fast flowing rocky streams. Tropical tanks do not allow sufficient O2 to dissolve and they frequently asphyxiate. The kind of high energy environment they find ideal will not suit most other coldwater fish. One group that springs to mind though are North American Darters.

They'll be better off in a well oxygenated clean tank with goldfish than a typical trop set up, although goldfish are very messy, so understocking and very good filtration would be in order.