Red hillstream loach

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep a small group in a tank of 90 litres or more with strong flow and smooth rockwork, at 18 to 24 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5. It grazes algae and biofilm, so supplement with vegetable-based sinking foods, blanched vegetables and the occasional frozen treat. Peaceful toward tankmates, it suits cool-water fish such as white cloud minnows, danios and other hillstream loaches, though it will defend a favourite grazing rock from its own kind.

In the wild

A flat, disc-shaped hillstream loach around 8 cm long that presses itself to rocks in strong flow. It needs cool, very clean, highly oxygenated water and a current strong enough to mimic a mountain rapid, often from an oversized filter or added powerhead. Smooth stones lit brightly enough to grow algae give it grazing surface and a place to rest. Warm, still water leaves it listless and short-lived.

Good to know

Its fused, wing-like paired fins form a suction disc that lets it hold onto bare rock against fast water. It is closely related to the common butterfly hillstream loach and is told apart by the reddish tint to its fins.

Did you know

It moves across glass and rock in short, gecko-like scoots, using its flattened body as a living suction cup.

Related species

• 

  Butterfly Loach

  Beaufortia kweichowensis

  3 in (7.5 cm)25 gal (95 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)
• Panda loach

  Yaoshania pachychilus

  2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
• Chinese butterfly loach

  Pseudogastromyzon cheni

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)

• 

  Tiger hillstream loach

  Sewellia lineolata

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)25 gal (95 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)
• Spotted hillstream loach

  Gastromyzon punctulatus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Borneo hillstream loach

  Gastromyzon ctenocephalus

  1.6 in (4 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)