hillstream loach eating enough?

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elly
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hillstream loach eating enough?

Post by elly » Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:35 pm

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.

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Jim Powers
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Post by Jim Powers » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:08 pm

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.
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elly
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Post by elly » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:23 pm

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

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Jim Powers
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Post by Jim Powers » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:30 pm

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.
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elly
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Post by elly » Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:50 pm

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.

Diana
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Post by Diana » Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:30 pm

I also have tried culturing algae that way, and really only had sort of so-so success. Maybe not enough light?
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.

Happy fish keeping!

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Martin Thoene
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Post by Martin Thoene » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:59 am

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.
Image Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

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elly
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Post by elly » Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:10 pm

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.

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Martin Thoene
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Post by Martin Thoene » Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:55 pm

@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.
Image Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Image

elly
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Post by elly » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:30 pm

@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 :lol: If I'm successful I'll buy a small tank and do a similar setup.
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andyroo
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Post by andyroo » Wed Mar 10, 2010 6:14 pm

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 can eat 50 eggs !"

elly
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Post by elly » Thu Mar 11, 2010 3:59 pm

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.
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JonasBygdemo
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Post by JonasBygdemo » Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:21 pm

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.

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Martin Thoene
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Post by Martin Thoene » Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:23 pm

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.
Image Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Image

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Martin Thoene
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Post by Martin Thoene » Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:24 pm

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 :lol: 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.
Image Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Image

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