Hillstreams in Europe

[Angelo]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum and I would like to ask you about your sources for hillstream loaches in Europe. I´ve been looking for many years species like Swellia lineolata or Gastromyzon ctenocephalus unsuccesfully.

Thanks a lot

Angelo

[Emma Turner]

Hi Angelo,

It's a case of befriending some interested people at a reputable local fish store, and asking if they would be willing to place an order for you. Many of the beautiful Gastromyzon species come in under the catch-all name of 'Borneo Sucker' and should be quite widely available.

Emma

[Angelo]

It's a case of befriending some interested people at a reputable local fish store, and asking if they would be willing to place an order for you. Many of the beautiful Gastromyzon species come in under the catch-all name of 'Borneo Sucker' and should be quite widely available.

Thanks a lot Emma,
but here things are not so easy. To find someone who simply know what is a hillstream loach is even more dificult than finding them.
I´ve been involved in the hobby (mainly Tanganyika cichlids and rare labyrinths) for more than 25 years, and I have learnt that most of the times that kind of "marginal fishes" run on underground circuits like societies, forums or others, but never on pet shops.
So please, could anyone give me a more accurate advice.

Many thanks again,
Angelo

[andre]

Hola Angelo, tengo el mismo problema aqui en Sudafrica. Pero he encontrado un sitio que podria ser utile para ti:

http://www.aquariofilabcn.org/forum/arc ... -1887.html

Es un forum que habla de loaches en Barcelona.

!Buenas suerte!

(I found a Barcelona's based forum that may help Angelo

[Angelo]

Thanks andre!

I knew that forum, but If you read carefully, nothing really interesting is said. Only some frivolous comments about some huge clown loaches.
What I really would like is to get in touch will hillstream loaches serious fans and to learn the ways they got their specimens.
Anyway thanks a lot for your kind contribution.
Definately we are talking about really rare fishes and thus rare hobbyists, so I am pretty convinced that my request is not the only on that direction around the world.
But let´s keep on trying...

Very best wishes,
Angelo

[andre]

Yep Angelo, you are quite right. Nothing like LOL.

Well, good luck! I am exactly in the same situation here.