More Loaches for my Mini Hillstream Tank

[Mamba]

I called up to my local LFS's as I seem to do every weekend now and came across these amongst the Goldfish. There were only four of them in the tank so I thought i'd have them as i've never seen these ones yet.





What particular type are they as they were marked as "Spotted Butterfly Pleco" and cost £9.97 each?

[Jim Powers]

Nice gastromyzon viriosus!! I wish I could find more of them.

[Mamba]

Cheers again Jim.

I hadn't seen them before, i've got them in temporarily with the Robusta and there doesn't seem to be any trouble between any of the fish at all. I may do another, small 3ft Hillstream tank for these and possibly some more Hillstream loaches as I don't want to find out the hard way I can't keep them together.

On that subject, is there any no no's for mixing hillstream loaches? Are there any that shouldn't be put together? So far I have 4 gastromyzon viriosus and two others that i'm yet to properly ID. I want to get some sewellia lineolata for sure and will keep an eye out for more in my local LFS.

[Jim Powers]

Some people have had problems mixing gstros with sewellia since the sewellia will dominate, but I have not had a serious problem. You just need to provide food in several locations so allo fish can feed without being harassed.

[Mamba]

Once again mate, many thanks for yet more very helpful advice.

I have similar when I try and feed my Acanthicus Adonis Pleco and Spotted Talking Catfish at night with my Koi and Common Goldfish. The Koi/Goldfish go nuts for the Large Pellets and the Pleco and Catfish hardly got a shot at them. I've taken to putting them into the Pleco cave and to where the catfish hides as they can't get at them.

Where there's a will there's a way. Plenty of hiding places too for all concerned.