Hillstream Loaches

[Didge007]

I have recently fallen in love with these little monsters...they are just adorable! Now, I am aware of the temperature, pH range and the need for fast water flow. I'm just curious as to what the general rule is for tank space per fish. I'm wondering if it's possible to have a species tank? I've not witnessed any aggression between mine, but I wanted a little more info if possible

 

[soybean]

I had three in a tank a little over 2ft long, with white clouds.

Most things I read about them said they were not aggressive and liked company. Well when I added two more in with the guy who had been in a month he was most unhappy about it and would chase them away from his cave/patch constantly, but the other two were fine with each other. Maybe I had a grumpy one.

So I wouldn't ever have more than two or three in at least 20gall, and would add them all at once.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

The most knowledgeable hillstream loach keeper I've come across on forums is a chap called Mark Dufill (I think) on other forums... I'm sure he has an account here, but not with quite the same name. He has kept and bred many different species in wonderful looking tanks, some of which have one-way flow created by powerheads linked up to pipework that goes along the base of the tank to sponge inlets at the opposite end of the tank.