Hill stream Loach + Ram Cichilds

[dlilh0821]

I was wondering if you could house Ram Cichlids with Hillstream Loaches?

I have a 27 gallon tank and currently have guppy platy neon tetra and 2 tan cichlids and wondered whether you could have hillstream loaches in as well?

 

[Byron]

Unfortunately, no. The requirements respecting temperature and water flow are very far apart.

Hillstream Loach: temperature 20-24C/68-75F. Water circulation must be high to provide the oxygen saturation this species requires. Their unique flattened body with horizontal fins allowing them to hold on to rocks in a strong current is indicative of the proper environment in the aquarium.

I don't know which Ram you have, but they require it warmer and calmer, and depending which ram it varies between them too. The common or blue ram in any variety needs warmth, in the range temperature 27-30C/80-86F, while the Bolivian is better in the range 24-27C/76-80F.

Neon Tetra are also somewhat cooler, around 24C/76F max.

What are "tan cichlids?"

 

[dlilh0821]

Unfortunately, no. The requirements respecting temperature and water flow are very far apart.

Hillstream Loach: temperature 20-24C/68-75F. Water circulation must be high to provide the oxygen saturation this species requires. Their unique flattened body with horizontal fins allowing them to hold on to rocks in a strong current is indicative of the proper environment in the aquarium.

I don't know which Ram you have, but they require it warmer and calmer, and depending which ram it varies between them too. The common or blue ram in any variety needs warmth, in the range temperature 27-30C/80-86F, while the Bolivian is better in the range 24-27C/76-80F.

Neon Tetra are also somewhat cooler, around 24C/76F max.

What are "tan cichlids?"

Thank you so much for the reply. I miss typed and meant ‘Ram’ cichlids. Would it be possible for two rams to go into a 16 gallon tank by the selves together? or is that tank size too small?

 

[kiko]

Temp 28c community tank with built-in sump doing about 100gph 2x rotation
Cories..
Plecos bunch of juveniles and 2 adult L144
4 juvenile and 2 male 1 female adult L046
Loaches...2 hillstream, 2 chain
2 pea puffers
Around 15 neon tetras...(I bought 19 of them a few years ago and they breed...numbers go up and down with these guys)
3 Amano shrimp
2 rainbow forktail
A few black crystal shrimp (they lose color)
A few fire red shrimp (have to separate whenever they get pregnant or the fish will eat all the small guys)
Around 15 endlers
2 zebra otos that I only see like never?!?
The only reason I know they're still there is because I see them maybe once every 2 months?
I kept everything at room temp until I got the zebra plecos which was kept around 22 in summer and around 25-28 in winter...after the l46s is a steady 28
No fish losses asides from fry getting eaten by other fish
My water changes are ph/TDs based which lately has been about 1 week and a half...before the L144s I went sometimes over a month without having to do a water change . I'm actually thinking of getting rid of them as they're too much of a poop
Machine
my ph is kept just over 7 if it reaches 7.2 I have a CO2 controller to lower it back down
Whenever my tank reaches about 375tds I change the water
I have a 45 a 20 and a 10gal
My next project is probably getting rid of the 144s to get better water conditions overall and try to breed the zebra plecos as I've recently acquired the female
Ps don't get cories if you get hillstream loaches
As the loaches will just starve them pushing them away from food

 

[Byron]

Thank you so much for the reply. I miss typed and meant ‘Ram’ cichlids. Would it be possible for two rams to go into a 16 gallon tank by the selves together? or is that tank size too small?

If this is the blue or common ram, yes, a pair can work in a 15g tank. I am assuming you are asking because then you could have them at the temperature they must have. This would work.

When you call them a "pair," are they just two, or a male/female?

 

[dlilh0821]

Yes, i would have them in at the right temperature and they are a male and female together.