Hillstream Loach Food

[Amunet]

What is the best food you could get for a Hillstream loach that isn't live?
We have one, and I read that they will take flake food, but I'm just worried that it won't get any b/c of the other fish in the tank.
I think it's starting to get more comfy in the tank since I've seen it on the gravel, but with the cories constantly rummaging for food.. I dunno if the lil fella is gonna be getting enough to eat.

Will they take food that's stuck to the glass? If so, then what would be good to get that sticks well?

 

[loachman]

What is the best food you could get for a Hillstream loach that isn't live?
We have one, and I read that they will take flake food, but I'm just worried that it won't get any b/c of the other fish in the tank.
I think it's starting to get more comfy in the tank since I've seen it on the gravel, but with the cories constantly rummaging for food.. I dunno if the lil fella is gonna be getting enough to eat.

Will they take food that's stuck to the glass? If so, then what would be good to get that sticks well?

algae, algae wafers, mysis shrimp, bloodworms, blanched spinach/kale, sinking pellets are all suggested.

 

[Amunet]

What is the best food you could get for a Hillstream loach that isn't live?
We have one, and I read that they will take flake food, but I'm just worried that it won't get any b/c of the other fish in the tank.
I think it's starting to get more comfy in the tank since I've seen it on the gravel, but with the cories constantly rummaging for food.. I dunno if the lil fella is gonna be getting enough to eat.

Will they take food that's stuck to the glass? If so, then what would be good to get that sticks well?

algae, algae wafers, mysis shrimp, bloodworms, blanched spinach/kale, sinking pellets are all suggested.

Alrighty, thanks a bunch for that! We tryed to find some sinking pellets yesterday but petsmart really doesn't have a large variety here.
I guess I'll just use the wafers we already have

 

[blue_betta]

been feeding mine the sinking algae bassed catfish pellets, they seem to like them

 

[-germ-]

I use the JBL small algae wafers. You can also try and feed a variety of blanched veg, kale and spinach seem to be quoted most often as succesful.
Have you heard of the whole rock in glass in sunlight thing?
Also don't be too worried if you don't see them eat wafer for ages, obviously without signs of emaciation. 4 of my 8 have only just started taking wafers after being in my tank for 2 months.
Have you got any pics

 

[Amunet]

What exactly does blanched mean? Is that where you wilt it?

Also never heard of the rock in sunlight thing. Is that to get algae on it for the loach?

Here some pics... bowfronts are terrible at trying to get a good pic of if it's not a straight on shot heh

Really bad one of the loach on the side of the tank. Of course the lil fella or miss decided now was a good time to start moving around all over the place

And then the stuck to the glass shots. So weird watching it's heart beat.

 

[-germ-]

Cute though, can you get a pic of the markings when you get the chance, for a possibly misguided I.D. attempt.
Yeah blanching just means stick it in a pan of already boiling water for a minute to break down the starch (i think) halfway between wilting it and doing nothing.
If you have good sunlight near you (it was a futile attempt on my part, but i live in Manchester, U.K ) try leaving a few rocks in dirty water out in the sun and maybe add some liquid fertiliser. With good sun within 1-3 days you should have a good algae build up, do this on rotation and you've got a constant supply of suitable and natural food.
Useless info1; According to what i've read they are after aufwuchs which are tiny organisms that live in algae, not the algae itself.
Useful info1; Alot of hillstream loaches die of starvation in aquariums, if they do appear to be getting skinny take emergency measures, i think i've been fairly lucky with my own.
Nightmare to take pics, got some fairly good ones in my sig (camera phone) but it took awhile to get them.
Try Loaches On Line for further info, there is a load on there.
Good luck.

 

[Amunet]

Definitely looks like the last one in your photos.. Pugwash.
I'll try to get some better photos of him/her though

We don't have any large rocks we can stick out in the sun. We're going back to the petstore probably tomorrow though so I'll try to pick some up then and do the sun + rock= yummy loach food thing
I live in southern US so.. getting enough sun is going to be no problem hehe

 

[-germ-]

Don't rub it in....
Oh useless info addition, i don't think hillstream loaches are actually cyprinids...

 

[Amunet]

Alrighty, here are some very cruddy shots of the loach. I took a dozen photos and these were the best of the bunch.... sigh.. god we need a better camera...

Hopefully you can still see it's markings enough to know what kind it is.

 

[blue_betta]

once they settle in and are eating well, its fun to watch them interacting. mine sort of "hop" from one rock to another and the sort of do a little territorial dance round each other waving their tails. the colours on their tails are sooo purty too! i ahd to move my big stripey one into anothe tank tho, he was hogging the food and bullying the small spotted ones