unidentified flat fish

[Betta*b*Happy!]

I would like to hear how they get on!

I have seen these in my lfs today and only knew what they were as i had read this post!
I considered getting some as i needed some algae lovers but the guy there said they can grow quite big.

 

[Robbo851]

3 inchs max apparently, also it is said that in tanks there growth is slow and most dont ever get bigger than an inch and a half, but that doesnt mean they wont.

doing great at the mo they are sucking the glass in the current from the filter outlet, they are so cool they look like little hovercrafts when the swim over the sand and when they suck on the glass you can see thier hearts beating

 

[Kajuki18]

I want to get some of those.. I saw them in my LFS and they looked like mini stingrays. What size tank do you think they need?

 

[sylvia]

They don't require a large tank - even a 10 gallon would be ok as they stay small (though they are a little territorial) - but they do have other special requirements.

For a start, they are not tropical. They need lower temps than your average tropical tank and, being a river fish, require very well-oxygenated water and a very strong current. There has to be good aeration and water circulation for them to thrive. They also appreciate lots of rounded rocks from which they can graze algae and tankmates that won't pick on them. Idealy, they need a tank set up with powerheads and river rocks with something like white clouds for tankmates and plenty of algae to munch on. If cared for properly they are actualy quite hardy fish. Unfortunately most LFSs have them in tropical tanks and don't meet their requirements so they do not have any chance to thrive.

Hillstream Loaches

Another Hillstream Loach Article

 

[black angel]

I had one in a tropical tank and he survived for nearly 6 months. I wouldnt do it again though as they really do prefer cooler water and a really fast oxygenated flow to the glass.
Another type you will see as well is called the hong kong plec, its bigger and nicely patterned.

 

[colen]

he told me he had kept six in his livebearer tank for nearly a year without any fatalities and it seemed a truthful statement.

and mine seem to be having a great time and clearing some of my algae

[snapback]887066[/snapback]​

Fish live for many many years. Keeping a fish alive and healty for a year is not anything special. These fish are best kept in a coldwater setup, they'll do much better.

 

[Robbo851]

they seem healthy and happy and they have a well oxygenated fast flowing area of water to stay in

 

[Robbo851]

my two hill stream loaches are doing great ,they look really healthy and are eating the algae on the back of my tank. they are great fish to watch and are quite lively

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

They are not happy though in a tropical tank. You can't judge a fish's emoticions just by wether it is eating and moving, hill stream loachs can live for many years but your will be lucky to survive 6months.

....Its a slow death for them- a fish metaboilism and body temp is defined by the temp of the water around it- so if you put a coldwater fish in a tropical tank it speeds its metabolism up and thus its death as it wears the fish out. Its like being in a desert with fuming heat and you have no cloths or sun lotion to protect yourself against the heat- you are not going to die imediatly but neither will you be happy or live a long life.

Its not much to set up a coldwater 10gal with a filter and cycle it for them, i advise you do this if you want to get the most out of your loachs and for them to get the most out of their lives too.