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Family:
| Balitoridae, Order: Cypriniformes
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Origin:
| Vietnam, China, Cambodia
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Mature Length:
| 9.0 - 11.0 cm ( 3.5 - 4.3 in)
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Min. length aquarium:
| 50 cm - 20 inches
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English name:
| Tiger Hillstream Loach
Reticulated Hillstream Loach |
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Ease of Keeping:
| Moderate
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Ease of Breeding:
| Difficult
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Tiger Hillstream Loaches, Sewellia lineolata, have especially developed fins to attach themselves to rocks
and flat areas in their naturally fast moving rivers
and streams. For them to survive and be happy they need strong
currents plus abundant oxygen, numerous rocky hiding places and smooth pebbles and boulders to graze over. Lighting should be bright to encourage algal growth in the aquarium. Plants are not necessary as the fish do not normally encounter them in the wild. They demand excellent water-quality. Suitable plants for high-flow environments are Anubias and Microsoreum. These will grow on rock-work or driftwood. Note these fish have smaller mouths than Gastromyzon species which should be a consideration with foodstuffs. Good quality flake, small sinking pellets, algae wafers, thawed frozen Bloodworm, Mysis Shrimp, blanched Spinach, Kale, natural algae are good foods for them. One part of their habits that differs from Gastromyzon or Beaufortia is that of "gliding" on the current. Those other species will move from a rock quickly to another in short hops, but Sewellia will launch from an elevated rock or other decor and glide on the current for some distance before alighting on another hard surface, or sometimes the substrate. Also, unlike many other Sucker-bodied Hillstream Loaches, they seem far more at ease when searching for food on the loose surface of sand or fine gravel, and will flutter their fins, disturbing the surface grains. It appears they do this to uncover possible food items.
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79°F
73°F
