FishTankHillstream loach care: tank size, temperature and tankmates
A flat loach that clings to rocks in fast, cool, well-oxygenated water. Hillstream loaches graze algae and biofilm.
Quick facts
| Type | Loach |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 2.5 inches |
| Smallest tank | 20 gallons |
| Temperature | 68–75°F |
| Keep | 3 or more |
| Watch for | Needs strong flow, cool water and rocks with algae to graze. |
How to keep them
Give them strong flow, smooth rocks and cooler water around 68 to 75°F. They need a mature tank with biofilm to graze.
Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.
Tankmates
Good tankmates
Neon tetra · Ember tetra · Black skirt tetra · Serpae tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · White cloud mountain minnow · Cherry barb · Tiger barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Honey gourami · Corydoras (bronze or peppered) · Pygmy corydoras · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail · Black neon tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Chili rasbora · Lambchop rasbora · Gold barb · Rosy barb · Dwarf neon rainbowfish · Bolivian ram · Ghost shrimp · Ramshorn snail · African dwarf frog
Possible, with care
- Cardinal tetra: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Rummynose tetra: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Dwarf gourami: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Kuhli loach: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Cherry shrimp: Hillstream loaches eat baby cherry shrimp. Adults usually survive with plenty of moss to hide in.
- Glowlight tetra: Only a narrow shared temperature range (74–75°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid: Only a narrow shared temperature range (74–75°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must. Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
- Kribensis: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must. Kribensis and apistos guard caves and chase bottom dwellers away when they have eggs. Give everyone their own hiding spots.
- Siamese algae eater: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
Avoid
- Betta (male): No shared temperature: hillstream loaches like 68–75°F, bettas 76–82°F.
- Pearl gourami: No shared temperature: hillstream loaches like 68–75°F, pearl gouramis 77–82°F.
- Angelfish: No shared temperature: hillstream loaches like 68–75°F, angelfish 76–84°F.
- Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
- Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
- Sparkling gourami: No shared temperature: hillstream loaches like 68–75°F, sparkling gouramis 76–82°F.
- German blue ram: No shared temperature: hillstream loaches like 68–75°F, German blue rams 78–85°F.
- Clown loach: No shared temperature: hillstream loaches like 68–75°F, clown loaches 77–86°F.
Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.
Tankmate questions: Can hillstream loaches live with white cloud minnows?
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