![]() The subfamily Nemacheilinae has recently been separated as a distinct family, Nemacheilidae (stone loaches) and several genera have been separated into the family Gastromyzontidae. Several species of the family live in fast-flowing streams or torrents and have modified ventral fins used for clinging to rocks. Most species are rheophilic, living in swift, clear and well-oxygenated streams. They should not be confused with the loricariids, which look similar but are a family of catfish. They have a number of similarities with the Cobitidae, their sibling family of " loaches", such as multiple barbels around the mouth. Many of the species are popular for aquaria, species in the genus Sewellia are most commonly sold in the aquaria trade. They are sometimes sold as "lizardfish" or (in Germany) "flossensaugers". Be sure to provide a secluded territory for each fish.The hillstream loaches or river loaches are a family, the Balitoridae, of small fish from South, Southeast and East Asia. I am planning on upgrading to a 75 Gallon, and will see if the increase in width of the tank will make a difference in their territorial skirmishes, though I have a feeling it is the length that makes the difference. of space, and even more I would recommend for more than one individual. I would reccommend it to those who can provide clean water with reasonable flow. Other than that, this fish has been an interesting and entertaining addition to my loach community. If another injury results, I will have to consider splitting them up. ![]() I would not classify this as a social fish with those of its own kind, though it can be tolerant and even friendly with other species. Butterfly loaches, meanwhile, belong to the Cobitidae family which includes many popular aquarium species such as clowns and yoyo’s. Each fish has claimed a log on opposite sides of the tank, spending most of the day resting there and darting out occasionally to look around or to eat. Hillstream loaches are found in the Eastern Hemisphere, from India through Southeast Asia up into parts of China. However, the two Schistura are very friendly towards the other fish and loaches, sharing their underlog territories with kuhli, pepper, and weather loaches. Even though I have them in a 4-ft, 55 Gallon tank, there are occasional territorial squabbles, the latest resulting in a 2mm wound in the side of the lighter-coloured fish. Their colouration is spectacular with their dark stripes and red tails, though one has become significantly darker than the other. They are now adults, and have reached a size of about 2.5" each. For the first while, these two fish were very social with eachother and could be seen playing and resting together. As the food was floating down, they would jump into the mid water column and do loop-de-loops to catch it. None of the food reached the bottom of the tank. They ate ravenously at first, and "caught" their food in a lively and entertaining way. This became especially apparent when I dropped food in the tank, and was then able to identify them as Schistura Mahnerti. By the following day, after placing them in QT, they had coloured up so much I scarcely recognized them, displaying many dark stripes and a red tail. ![]() Being a loach enthusiast, I recognized them as something different, but was not able to ID them right away. About a year ago, I purchased two pale little loaches that came in as contaminants in a shipment of other fish.
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