Baby Hillstream Loach

[Ellabellaboo]

Thanks Jim

I have had him/her 15 months now, has been in the 90 litre for 11 months, it's just since the family went in that he has started hiding like this ( it's 2 days now. I used to see him everyday).

I feel awful - poor thing, he was quite happy before

Do you think it is a good idea to clean the tank, or should I just leave him ? It could really do with a bit of a clean, but if I do the filters (and they need it this week ideally - at a push could leave it until next) if he is behind them it will disturb him.

[Jim Powers]

I'm not really sure what to tell you. If the tank needs cleaned, I would do it.

[Ellabellaboo]

I cleaned the tank today and found him dead behind a plant Poor chap, he just dissapeared when the cheni family went in.

I wonder if the male cheni was just protecting his young - they are 4 months old now.

I feel awful. he was such a little character. But, the cheni family had to move.

Thanks for all your help

[Jim Powers]

Sorry to hear that.
Maybe the cheni brought in a disease that killed the beaufortia?
In my experience, beaufortia usually do not let cheni intimidate them.

[ClownLoachSharky]

Sorry to hear about your loss

[Ellabellaboo]

Thank you, I appreciate your comments,

The cheni family seem to be doing well in their new home, which is good - I miss my little chum tho' He was a bit braver than the others - didn't skit off so much when I went near the tank.

[Ellabellaboo]

Hello ! it has been a while !

My family of 4 cheni are still living happily in the 90 litre along with a white cloud mountain minnow group.

The babies are 14 moths old now (no longer babies !), what concerns me slightly is that one of them has grown an awful lot bigger - almost / if not aldult size. The other, is considerably smaller (and I mean considerably). It is always grazing mainly on algae / algae wafers / daphnia and seems absolutely fine. It is darker in colouration (I always think the darker ones are the boys - I may not be right ), no other offspring have ever been produced, but dad is forever swishing his tail in the gravel in the corner of the tank (is this him reminding others that he is the main man ).

I do worry a bit about my little chap, but only because he is small - seems to have stopped growing.

Is this normal ?

Many thanks

Ella