Hillstream Loach
Sewellia lineolata
Family: Gastromycidae • Origin: Southeast Asia
Hillstream Loaches are flat, bizarre-looking fish adapted to fast-flowing streams. They cling to rocks and glass, eating biofilm and algae.
Min Tank
20 gal
Max Size
3"
Temperature
65-75°F
pH
6.5-7.5
Lifespan
8 years
School Size
3+
Swim Level
bottom
Hardness
5-12 dGH
peacefulintermediateherbivoreschooling
Care Tips
- • Needs cool, highly oxygenated water
- • Strong water flow essential
- • Eats biofilm from surfaces
- • Not for warm tropical tanks
- • Unique and fascinating behavior
Feeding: Biofilm, algae, spirulina wafers. Needs mature tank with established surfaces.
Compatibility Notes: Needs cool, fast-flowing, highly oxygenated water. Cannot tolerate warm stagnant conditions.
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 20 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 30 gallons
- Swimming Level
- bottom
- Minimum School Size
- 3+ fish
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 65–75°F
- pH Range
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness (dGH)
- 5–12
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- Yes
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- herbivore
- Growth Rate
- slow
Needs cool, fast-flowing, highly oxygenated water. Cannot tolerate warm stagnant conditions.
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- egg layer
- Breeding Difficulty
- very difficult
- Lifespan
- 8 years
Ideal For
20 gallonriver biotopecool water tank
Compatible Tank Mates
View all →
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
70-81°FpH 6-710+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.5"
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
72-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
semi-aggressiveschooling 6+1.75"
Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
70-82°FpH 6-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+3"
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
72-82°FpH 6.8-7.810+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+2.5"
Endler's Livebearer
Poecilia wingei
72-82°FpH 6.5-85+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+1.5"
Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
70-80°FpH 7-810+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+3"
Similar Species
Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
75-86°FpH 5.5-715+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+4"
Dwarf Chain Loach
Ambastaia sidthimunki
75-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+2.5"
Zebra Loach
Botia striata
73-79°FpH 6-720+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+4"
Hillstream Butterfly Loach
Beaufortia kweichowensis
65-75°FpH 6.5-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 3+3"