

That’s a weird site, but beautiful nonetheless! Life Expectancy That doesn’t mean that you won’t get to enjoy your fish, as you’ll often find all the loaches stuck firmly to the viewing panes or rocks in your tank in a group. Their small size makes them ideally suited for foraging for food in tiny crevices and cracks in the rocky landscape of the riverbed home. Reticulated Hillstream loaches are small fish, measuring around 2 to 3 inches in length. A sucker mouth and flattened underbelly are also perfect for grazing on algae and withstanding the force of the water. The loach’s pelvic and pectoral fins are fanlike in shape, and the fish use those fins to move around and to cling onto solid surfaces within the habitat. The body is streamlined and hydrodynamic, perfectly adapted to cope in fast-flowing water with minimal effort on the fish’s part. Take a look at the fish’s body shape, and you’ll immediately see why they’re so well-suited to their natural habitat, where the current is very fast. The striping on the dorsal and caudal fins tends to be more linear than that of the body.

The fish’s body is light yellow-gray with broad black bands that sprawl randomly across the whole fish, including the fins, creating a stunning dappled pattern. Reticulated Hillstream loaches have very short barbels, which is why they’re sometimes assumed to be a species of catfish, although they are not.

The fish’s appearance is so strange that it’s often mistaken for a mini-stingray. This species of Hillstream loach is a beautiful, unique-looking fish that’s sure to captivate everyone who sees it in your home aquarium! Reticulated loaches are not strictly regarded as schooling fish, although they are often seen living in small groups.Ī large part of the loaches’ diet comprises algae that they graze on throughout the day, supplementing that with small worms, insect larvae, and the like. These fish are found in fast-flowing streams, spending much of their time foraging on the stream bottom or clinging to rocks. The Reticulated loach is currently listed on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable, largely due to habitat destruction.

Deliveries are usually Monday to Friday only, although some Royal Mail items may be delivered on weekends as standard if the service is available in your area.Reticulated loaches are members of a large family of 202 different Hillstream loach varieties that are found in decreasing numbers in southeast Asia, China, and parts of India. Pre-orders are shipped once we have the stock available and will be shipped using the service chosen at checkout.Īll services are working day services and do not include delivery on Saturdays and Sundays or public holidays as standard. In stock orders placed before 2pm will be despatched on the same working day (not including palletised items, pond plants or fibreglass ponds). To view the Compatibility Advisory Chart please select the Additional Tab above. They can live to anything from 6-8 years in perfect conditions. They like a planted aquarium with hiding places. They live well with tank mates such as Tetras, Rasbora, Livebearers, etc of similar size. Mainly sinking pellets however they can also have live or frozen foods. They do need hiding places to make them feel calm and less skittish. Lifespan is an estimate based on optimum conditions.Įasy. To minimise stress we are unable to hand pick specific fish. If you have any questions regarding livestock please contact us. We are unable to guarantee the size, colour, sex or age of the fishes you are purchasing. Please be aware that the image is for illustration purposes only. They are lively and look great in a planted aquarium. The popular Zebra Loach is very similar to the YoYo Loach.
