Hillstream Loach?

[guppymonkey]

We got some new fish at work that were labelled Butterfly Plecos. I found them in my atlas book under the common name, Hillstream Loach. These guys seem to be amazingly good algae eaters! Have you ever heard of these guys?

 

[Fella]

We got some new fish at work that were labelled Butterfly Plecos. I found them in my atlas book under the common name, Hillstream Loach. These guys seem to be amazingly good algae eaters! Have you ever heard of these guys?

[snapback]908643[/snapback]​

I've got 2 of these guys and they're ace. They not only clean the tank up a bit, they also dance at each other and that sort of thing.


Their requirements are coldwater, don't count on keeping one alive in a tropical tank for long. You'll also need a fast current. They live in hillstreams (like the name suggests) and they appreciate that sort of thing.

Check www.loaches.com for more detailed explanations of them. Our pair are Gastromyzon beaufortia according to loaches.com, but in a recent publication I saw them called Pseudogastromyzon cheni. Either way, they're excellent fish and appreciate being kept in shoals, so that they can flare at each other

HTH

 

[SirMinion]

We got some new fish at work that were labelled Butterfly Plecos. I found them in my atlas book under the common name, Hillstream Loach. These guys seem to be amazingly good algae eaters! Have you ever heard of these guys?

[snapback]908643[/snapback]​

Yep, Hillstream loaches suffer from one of the worst cases of multiple common name syndrome in the hobby!
Some of the other names I've seen are:

• Butterfly Pleco
• Hong-Kong Plec
• Siamese Plec
• Chinese Plec
• Asian Plec
• Dwarf Stingray Plec
• Borneo Plec
• Borneo Sucker

..and many many more...

There are several different species of this fish all from the Gastromyzon family which is certainly not a plec, not even a catfish and strictly speaking not even a true loach!

The most accurate name I've seen them sold as is 'Gastro sucker' which I think sounds like a stomach disease!

 

[Teelie]

Whatever their true category is, I wish everyone would decide on a single common name.

 

[Fella]

Whatever their true category is, I wish everyone would decide on a single common name.

[snapback]908697[/snapback]​

Ahh, but it's got to be aimed at whatever is most popular in the store right? Hence this month it's "butterfly plec" and next week it'll be a "flathead oscar" or "elongated angel"

 

[LoachLover]

I have 3 of them, they are great little fish. But yes they do have a lot of names, many of which are incorrect.