ArtemisCai Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 Are Reticulated Hillstream Loaches and Borneo loaches basically the same fish family, just differently patterned? I searched but found all kinds of different answers and am now more confused than when I started searching 🤔. My tank finished cycling so last night I went to a LFS to buy 3 Reticulated Hillstream Loaches. Upon getting them home, I noticed that one of them looks slightly different. The Reticulated Hillstream loaches were in a tank with Borneo Loaches and I'm wondering if the kid gave me the wrong fish. I don't have pictures yet. I had to travel 45 minutes home and the kid had trouble catching the poor little guys so they were quite stressed. When I got home, I floated them in the bag for 20 minutes, put them in the tank and turned off my lights to give them time to acclimate. I still have the lights off so can't take pictures yet. I'm just curious, not really concerned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 On 8/13/2021 at 1:02 PM, ArtemisCai said: Are Reticulated Hillstream Loaches and Borneo loaches basically the same fish family, just differently patterned? I searched but found all kinds of different answers and am now more confused than when I started searching 🤔. My tank finished cycling so last night I went to a LFS to buy 3 Reticulated Hillstream Loaches. Upon getting them home, I noticed that one of them looks slightly different. The Reticulated Hillstream loaches were in a tank with Borneo Loaches and I'm wondering if the kid gave me the wrong fish. I don't have pictures yet. I had to travel 45 minutes home and the kid had trouble catching the poor little guys so they were quite stressed. When I got home, I floated them in the bag for 20 minutes, put them in the tank and turned off my lights to give them time to acclimate. I still have the lights off so can't take pictures yet. I'm just curious, not really concerned. I think they’re different. Here’s a link to Hillstream Loach (Gastromyzon punctulatus) on fishbase.se And here’s a different link to Borneo Loach (Pangio shelfordii) on fishbase.se 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtemisCai Posted August 13, 2021 Author Share Posted August 13, 2021 I appreciate the links. I saw this on the page of the link you posted for the Hillstream Loach. I am thinking my confusion stems from people using the term "Borneo suckers" and "Borneo Loach" interchangeably when referring to the Hillstream loaches on some of the sites I visited. That clears it up for me. Thanks! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 (edited) They are not related. They require fairly similar conditions- namely lower temps and high oxygen saturation. They show a preference for planted or hardscaped stream style setups This link has some pretty good info from what I skimmed: https://www.loaches.com/articles/hillstream-loaches-the-specialists-at-life-in-the-fast-lane Edited August 13, 2021 by Biotope Biologist 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtemisCai Posted August 13, 2021 Author Share Posted August 13, 2021 Fantastic link! Thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KentFishFanUK Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 (edited) I bought a gastromyzon ocellatus sold to me as a sewellia lineolata (reticulated hillstream loach). Apparently the wholesaler just sells them as 'hillstream loaches' and doesn't specify which ones (at least that was my fish guy's excuse). I think they can't interbreed but I think two different species in the same family (i.e. two different gastromyzon species) can. Though I could have that wrong, the whole species/genus/family etc terminology confuses me! Anyone able to dumb it down for me? Unfortunately my one died in my community tank 😢 but until then it was my favourite fish, so now I'm planning a 30g hillstream biotope tank! @ArtemisCai do you have pics yet?? Edit: ok I followed that link from @Biotope Biologist and I think I get it, the different hillstream loaches are in the same family, but separate genera. Different species within the same genus can cross breed (i.e. two gastromyzon species') but members of a different genus (i.e. sewellia) can't crossbreed with them. But they are all in the same family. Still not sure if 'family' simply means they are put in the same category for studying purposes because they share traits or if it means they share a common ancestor or what though? Edited August 14, 2021 by KentFishFanUK New information 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtemisCai Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 I did get some pictures and videos. It is not great quality but all three of them came out in front of the tank so I was able to get some with them right next to each other. Meet Hoover, Kirby and Dyson. I am already in love with these little guys. They are so fun to watch! 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dkshadowwolf Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 Very nice looking aquarium. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtemisCai Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KentFishFanUK Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 4:19 PM, ArtemisCai said: I did get some pictures and videos. It is not great quality but all three of them came out in front of the tank so I was able to get some with them right next to each other. Meet Hoover, Kirby and Dyson. I am already in love with these little guys. They are so fun to watch! Nice pic and lovely fish! The big one is definitely sewellia lineolata but to my untrained eye the other two could both be different for all I know. Either way they are great fishies! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtemisCai Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 That was my thought exactly. Hoover is the big one, Kirby is the medium one and Dyson is the small one. It was Kirby that I really questioned because he was very light in color the first day I got him. I did read that they could be more pale when stressed. He is still much different looking than the other two though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotope Biologist Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 The other two look to be different species. At least they didnt call them butterfly pleco like the store I worked at did, I was super excited to see a L168 at the store and for only $9. I tore that box apart looking for them only to realize they were reffering to reticulated hillstream loaches 😑 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KentFishFanUK Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 On 8/14/2021 at 6:20 PM, Biotope Biologist said: The other two look to be different species. At least they didnt call them butterfly pleco like the store I worked at did, I was super excited to see a L168 at the store and for only $9. I tore that box apart looking for them only to realize they were reffering to reticulated hillstream loaches 😑 A welcome surprise IMO! Haha I prefer hillstream loaches to pleco's 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtemisCai Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 I fed the little ones cucumber for the first time. They, along with the shrimp and snails seems to really enjoy it. It was so cute to watch them nom on it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJF92 Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 The Sewellia species are a mess to identify if you aren't familiar with the species. Almost all are sold as "reticulated hillstream loaches" or S. lineolata. Your largest loach is indeed a true S. lineolata. Medium sized one is the most interesting: it could be either S. breviventralis, SEW03 or SEW04. SEW04, least likely. S. breviventralis most likely. S. breviventralis is critically endangered, and your's is a female. If you can find a male and breed them it would be awesome. Smallest is almost certainly a SEW01. You have three different types of hillstream loach. Hope this helped. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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