Hillstream Loach (beaufortia Kweichowensis)

[highfire]

Very welcome. IMHO, more than one (they need social life too, and it is very interesting to see them interracting), but make sure that the tank is totally suitable first.
Good luck!

Thanks again, and I shall hopefully being setting up another tank fairly soon. No prizes for guessing what I shall be putting in there!

 

[mikev]

Very welcome. IMHO, more than one (they need social life too, and it is very interesting to see them interracting), but make sure that the tank is totally suitable first.
Good luck!

Thanks again, and I shall hopefully being setting up another tank fairly soon. No prizes for guessing what I shall be putting in there!

I would not try to guess, but here is a possibly useful hint: Beaufortia's tend to be hardier than other hillstream suckers.

Good luck, whatever you chose.

 

[highfire]

I would not try to guess, but here is a possibly useful hint: Beaufortia's tend to be hardier than other hillstream suckers.

Good luck, whatever you chose.

Thanks - and again thanks for the tip about a Beaufortia. Much appreciated!

 

[mikev]

I would not try to guess, but here is a possibly useful hint: Beaufortia's tend to be hardier than other hillstream suckers.

Good luck, whatever you chose.

Thanks - and again thanks for the tip about a Beaufortia. Much appreciated!

You are very welcome. If you actually are concerned about having hardy hillstreams, here is another hint: consider small schisturas. Something like this fellow:

This is a S. Poculi, <=2", extremely hardy and not too aggressive. (I picked this one and two more a couple of weeks ago..they spent too much time at the store & I felt sorry for them.). There are other species like this, for example, S. Beavani (similar fish, different markings). Emma Turner's shop in the UK has Beavanis now, asaik.
Nice things about schisturas is that (1) they don't catch random diseases or die without a reason (2) they are compatible with both hillstream or "mainstream" tropical tanks (3) fairly entertaining when they chase each other. IMHO, a nice hillstream tank will have not too many species, and smaller schistura+beaufortia is a working combination, imho a good one since they both have a similar aggression level (nothing bloody, but active).

hth

 

[highfire]

A great big word of thanks, mikev.
He looks lovely, and sounds as if he would be very easy to care for.

 

[mikev]

A great big word of thanks, mikev.
He looks lovely, and sounds as if he would be very easy to care for.

Very welcome.

They do not require much care. I got six of them originally a year ago, they all are doing fine -- in a tropical tank, with clowns etc (the tank has current and extra O2); the latest three are the last survivors of the same shipment which somehow managed a year in a bare-bottom tank at the store...could not stand watching them there anymore .

The store to consider is this:
http/www.fishkeeper.co.uk/store_details.php?storeid=33

You'll likely find the right type of fish there, and -- very importantly -- the fish is likely to be healthy + they know the fish they are selling.


This is a Beavani (picture from the store --- photo by Emma Turner)

 

[The Walrus]

I had a hillstream loach a couple of months ago, but unfortunately it didn't do very well in my tank atall and died not long after I bought it. To be perfectly honest, I had it in totally the wrong circumstances.

Thats why i bought mine when i had tons of algae on the glass, when you first get them they dont eat until a few days, they usually stick on the glass during those days, good thing i had algae for them to eat.

However, GF is wrong choice for a tank mate -- too large and too dirty

I keep my 3 hillstream loaches with 8 common goldfish in a 90 gallon tank... they are doing great if not fine. they always get food when i feed them.....

i must admit that GF are dirty but i have a strong filteration, and the filters create currents and the bubble wall helps with even more aeration.... there doing great and everybodys getting along.

they love bloodworms....

Hey mikey have u ever got your loaches to eat veggies? i put some zuchinni in there and nobody touched it... not even the GF

 

[mikev]

IMHO, if you keep the tank understocked, provide filtration and current, then there is nothing seriously wrong with a GF tank. In fact, you can probably put another ten hillstreams into it... Algae (or actually what is in it) is a must if they don't eat anything else (happens to).

As for the bloodworms -- it depends on the species. Some would not eat it, some will, but would be more excited about shrimp, some go nuts...

I did not experiment all that much with veggies, but most of experiments (both botia and hillstreams) failed -- no interest. Apple worked, but it spoils the water. If you got natural algae, I doubt any veggie can compete with it.

 

[highfire]

Mikev,
Thanks for the link. Infact, that happens to be my LFS, but not the Peterborough one, the Stapleton one.
I agree - the fish they sell are always healthy and the informative staff are very helpful and knowledgable.
Hhmm - I feel a trip to the LFS this weekend coming on.....

 

[mikev]

From what I understand it the Peterborough is far superior to the rest as far as loaches go, it may be the best store in the world. I have no idea about the UK geography, but if it happens to be within reach of you it is worth going specifically there (I've seen a lot of pictures of fish that came through that store and they made me envious).

(But then I may be getting a hillstream this weekend that even they never have...he-heh).

Good luck, let us know how your trip worked out.