Hillstream Loaches - acting like puppies with a new toy

[MattW52 168]

Just finished my water change with a funny ending. I ended up moving a few things in the tank, including pebbles. One ended up in the stream pile, which became prime real estate (where the flow is at its most powerful). As I put the lid back on, the loaches began swarming the new rock. A scuffle did happen, but didn't last long as the largest easily won. I only caught the end on film, but seeing 5 loaches swarm this rather small rock made me laugh.

 

[SammyTargo]

I clicked on this thread thinking to see the Sewillia genus, like the one called "butterfly sucker," which normally don't really brawl so I was very curious. This is not the hillstream I was thinking about; these ones look slightly different, what are they?

 

[MattW52 168]

Vietnamese giraffe loach

 

[SammyTargo]

Interesting, are they commonly available and how do they act differently to the ones I referred to?

 

[MattW52 168]

Interesting, are they commonly available and how do they act differently to the ones I referred to?

I would say they are uncommon/rare in the UK, can't say for other regions. As for the way they act, some similarities to Sewillia. They do love being in the best positions in high-flow areas and will scuffle over that and even an alage wafer. I have no idea what ratio of M to F I have, as there is little info on these fish online.

If you are interested in other hillstreams have a look at @Magnum Man threads on his tank. Some very cool species in that tank
The best looking one IMO is on this thread