Loaches Online Forum

How do I know if my hillstream loach is getting enough to eat? It's been 3 weeks now since he was added to the tank. I have 3 orandas in the 40G tank as well and they tend to eat everything I put in before he gets the chance to eat it. I have tried algae wafers, sinking pellets and bloodworms. My loach spends most of his time hiding between rocks but I have seen him cleaning the tank glass a few times.

Goldfish aren't the best tank mates for hillstreams for the very reason you mentioned. They out compete the hillstreams for the food.
Also, it may take some hillstreams months to adapt to eating algae wafers, shrimp pellets, bloodworms, etc.
Its a good sign that you have seen it graze on the glass, though.

So what's the best type of food to feed him in this case?

You are feeding them the right foods, it just may take a bit more time for them to figure out its food.
I have had hillstreams feed the first day, or take as long as several months to start eating prepared fish foods.
Is there much algae on the rocks in the tank? If not, if you can put some in from another tank, the fish will probably graze on them.
Hillstreams tend to either adapt to eating after they have grazed most of the tank clean, or just starve to death. Fortunately, most will adapt well to the new foods.
But, as I said, the goldfish in the tank may complicate things.

I have tried growing algae on rocks but I haven't been successful. I put a few round rocks into a bucket with water near the window so it can get plenty of sun light. I added some fish food to it as well for nutrients but nothing grew. I have even tried getting an algae sampling from my local petstore but still no luck.

I also have tried culturing algae that way, and really only had sort of so-so success. Maybe not enough light?

Remember my nutrient trick I have used for good algae culture.

Just put some urine in the water. Adequate light is most important though.

Martin.

The bucket I used is a clear plastic and I leave it next to a window where there's plenty of sunlight. Maybe it's because I have a water softener installed for the whole house.

@Martin
How much urine do you usually put? I have a litre of water in the bucket.

@Martin
How much urine do you usually put? I have a litre of water in the bucket.

In a litre you would need only a splash.

Read here for further insight:

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... ight=algae

Martin.

@Martin
Very nice algae setup you got there. Is there a specific temperature for optimum growth? I'm gonna try using the secret ingredient once I get home If I'm successful I'll buy a small tank and do a similar setup.

Martin,
In Ontario, do you ever think of putting those rocks into a situation where they might take on black-fly larvae? That could be the breeding-trigger.
I guess it wouldn't make you too popular with the neighbours....
A

I tried using some urine but still no luck growing any algae. I left the bucket next to the window for few days now but nothing is growing.

Martin Thoene wrote: In a litre you would need only a splash.

Read here for further insight:

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... ight=algae

Martin.

That's disgustingly clever. I tried growing some, but all I got was brown, no green algae.

andyroo wrote:Martin,
In Ontario, do you ever think of putting those rocks into a situation where they might take on black-fly larvae? That could be the breeding-trigger.
I guess it wouldn't make you too popular with the neighbours....
A

You're talking more northern Ontario andy. None of those unsavoury bugs in Toronto.

Martin.

elly wrote:@Martin
Very nice algae setup you got there. Is there a specific temperature for optimum growth? I'm gonna try using the secret ingredient once I get home If I'm successful I'll buy a small tank and do a similar setup.

That setup was on my south-west facing balcony during the summer. Temperature fluctuation was pretty vast.

Martin.