Strange Alien Fish! - Borneo Loach Care Guide

[@garthantash]

I have kept a dozen Borneo loaches in my 450L community tank for about 6 months now. I haven't done anything to try to make it happen but they are happily breeding in there as I keep spotting fry at different stages of development. Everything else in the tank is small and peaceful so I am expecting most of the fry will survive.

[@fco.javierbermejocogolludo3945]

Hi there! Could you tell me what values ​​do you keep them in? PH, KH, GH, TDS Thanks!

[@garthantash]

@@fco.javierbermejocogolludo3945 I don't do anything special to my water besides add Seachem Safe. My water provider lists average pH 7.3, hardness 81 mg/L, TDS 232. I keep the tank at 23.5C. The Borneo loaches I have I believe are locally bred (but not confirmed) so I expected them to be ok with local water conditions. I have big, flat rocks, lots of plants, air stones and surface movement, a sandy bottom and lots of small, compatable fish (ember tetras, corys, dwarf rainbows) and cherry shrimp. I believe the key to keeping them happy is flat rocks with algae, occasional protein like black worms, places to hide and feel safe and well oxygenated, clean and clear water. It doesn't need to be fast flowing but it does need surface movement for gas exchange and in a 450L, I have a wave maker down low to ensure water moves around the tank.

[@garageaquatics2023]

I think having 'pre-algaed' rocks is some of the best advice I've heard. Thanks for this little tid-bit, Blake! Cheers, Mate! ~Ron

[@BlakesAquatics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@samewyk3645]

I have some of these in with my betta and they seem ok. there swimming around and eating despite the tank being warm and low flow

[@icecoldben1656]

Cool fish, i live in malaysia and these fish can be easily found sticking itself to a rock in my local river. All i need to do to get one is a net, a goggle and a bucket to put the fish in. I also find borneo spotted barbs alongside with dwarf shrimps in my river.

[@Her_Viscera]

If you buy these guys you NEEEED a lid. In my experience they will use any possible hole or slit to escape. I bought a group of three and within half an hour one had climbed up into my filter, jumped over the side and dried out. I spent over an hour ensuring my tank was Fort Knox for them but it didn't matter! TLDR; YOU CANNOT HOUSE THESE IN A RIMLESS AQUARIUM! 😁🐟

[@BlakesAquatics]

100% yes great point

[@flyingcrocodile4630]

I have four of these little beauties in a 1 gallon cylindrical tank with a super small filtered power head injecting a fast vertical flow of aerated water down the side of the tank. Easiest care fish ever with a 33% water change every two weeks and feeding them only on algae wafers, with no problems for over two years now.

[@BlakesAquatics]

Thanks for sharing

[@artipenvxv1151]

What is your alternative food for them?

[@aquariumplantman]

These are cool, I have them in my CRS aquarium 🌿

[@sinalau888]

I have been fed it with sinking wafer but why don’t they eat? Been working for it and I didn’t know why it didn’t eat.

[@BendeGroot]

I'm planning a new unheated Asian tank with hillstream loaches or borneo loaches (depending on what I can get locally) and white cloud mountain minnows. Do you have suggestions for other tank mates? Also, I don't think you mentioned that these are excellent climbers in the wild and will get up on waterfalls, so a lid on your tank is needed.

[@BlakesAquatics]

great point! tight lids are a must. Asian fish id suggest are perhaps some glowlight rasboras, maybe a gourami like a honey gourami?

[@jijgig7581]

A small spiny eel could work they can go to 23 degrees and eat planaria and other annoying wormy things

[@danm8004]

I'd go for a paradise fish for my centerpiece, you can mix some danios in there as well. Danio erythromicron (emerald dwarf rasbora) or celesthicthys margaritatus (celestial pearl danio/galaxy rasbora) are great too

[@simonsaquatics6869]

Hey Blake, I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@Vimublue]

Can it live with red lizard pleco?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Yeah Id say so

[@edstar81]

Great care guide mate. Love these fish. Also the tank looks awesome. I want it haha. Thanks for the video

[@BlakesAquatics]

Cant go past that fluval flex 😄 so easy, so effortless

[@nathansweet4003]

Ive been trying to purchase reticulated loaches to breed for a month, was sold borneo loaches as them today 😢

[@BlakesAquatics]

Sorry to hear that

[@csharpe5787]

Apparently love mine. They are so easy to keep.

[@finnwiggles28]

I love my Borneo sucker, had my LFS order them in, they're never in great shape from the 'fish warehouse' or wherever they get them; so only one has survived :(

[@BlakesAquatics]

sorry to hear mate.. yeah notorious for coming in skinny

[@Johnjimo1987]

What are your thoughts on the tank now you've had it a while? I really like the idea of the sump in the back

[@BlakesAquatics]

Yeah really love it. I did a 1 month / 6 week update video last week or week before

[@Chompchompyerded]

The ones which are striped are Vietnamese hillstream loaches. The ones which are spotted are the "Burmese" hillstream loaches. There are over 200 species of hillstream loach, so there's quite a bit to choose from if you can find sources for them. Finding sources is the major problem. They are becoming more common so the perhaps the price will go down. I have had no problem breeding any of the species of loach I have been able to get. I keep my hillstream loaches in tanks with large round stones on the bottom two layers thick. No sand, gravel or any other kind of substrate. The males like to challenge each other on the broadest of the stones. Their challenges are these affairs where they go around in circles very fast, but don't actually do any harm to each other. Eventually one will tire of it and quit, leaving the other the undisputed champion of that particular rock. I have never seen them actually breed or lay their eggs, but eventually I will start to see little ones starting to peek out from in between the stones. I don't keep any sort of a power head in my hillstream loach aquariums. They seem to do just fine without it. The only flow in the aquarium comes from the water coming out of my hang on back filters. For me, they have not proven to be as environmentally picky as a lot of people have said they are. They do just fine in community aquariums that don't in any way mimic streams. They are voracious algae eaters, and will out-perform otocynclus by a lot. The best thing about them though, is that they are just packed full of personality. I don't think there will be anyone who will regret getting these little characters, or any hillstream loach species for that matter.

[@AxelDBD]

Thanks I will get some now😊😊😊

[@BlakesAquatics]

Hope you enjoy

[@farahfarhana172]

Hello. I wanted to restart my tank. How can i catch them in my tank without hurting them ? Any tips ?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Can try a diy fish trap from a soda / soft drink bottle

[@dreadlock17]

I love my spotted Borneo loach. I named him Bob. Subbed!

[@itsmejason5865]

Would they live in a 26c tank?

[@BlakesAquatics]

No they wouldnt last too long that high

[@FishRfun]

I have a spotted one coming tomorrow. Been trying to lower my temp to 76 but it won't go lower than 79. I'm really worried. It's cold in my apartment so I don't know why it won't go down

[@BlakesAquatics]

Have a fan blow air across the top, thatll cool it

[@FishRfun]

@Blake's Aquatics good idea...if t take the hood off the tank, the a/c vent blows really cold air right on it

[@annahilliard4875]

What are the little black and red fishes?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Sanke swordtails 😄

[@stephaniecooper9419]

I bought one from my lfs that is about 3.5 inches long. The store said they'd never had one come in that large and asked me if I wanted it (I'm a regular there). I've had it for almost a year and the only thing I've noticed is empty snail shells since adding it. Any thoughts on if it could be another look alike type of loach?

[@BlakesAquatics]

It could be but all loaches wilk eat snails anyway. Sounds cool 👍

[@jaemanlee2709]

are volcano rocks good?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Absolutely

[@kokkionglim6548]

Do they dig up the substrate?

[@BlakesAquatics]

No not at all

[@kokkionglim6548]

@@BlakesAquatics Thanks!

[@aidossgaming2491]

With enough cover and hiding places would they work in a larger tank with a male betta? Love the content mate keep it up!

[@BlakesAquatics]

Absolutely 👍

[@aidossgaming2491]

@@BlakesAquatics awesome good to know

[@latoiaadnum7460]

I have my Borneo in with a male betta, school of dwarf rasboras, some otocinclus, and a bunch of cherry shrimp all are happy and there’s no trouble with eating or fighting over territory.

[@shars.555]

Love your tank! What kind of 'ground cover' on the bottom of your tank do you have? The Borneo Loaches are soo cute. Thanks! ✨️😊

[@BlakesAquatics]

Monte carlo 😄 thanks

[@shars.555]

@@BlakesAquatics 👍😊

[@misteralex01]

Every when is there a livestream?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Every Thursday 7.30pm Melbourne time. 👍

[@benitouchiha]

Can they live to live with other hillstream loaches? Like different types?

[@BlakesAquatics]

Sure can 👍

[@davidmang7456]

how many litres does one need?

[@BlakesAquatics]

50L and above

[@desandywang497]

im from west borneo and i have that fish on my tank 😀

[@HCAqua]

love them borneos!

[@DanishnSonic]

You know whats funny? Borneo is a tropical climate, and the internet says that they are coldwater fish. I kept mine in room temperature since i live in borneo, temp rise up to 27°C (without a cover) and my buddies are thriving. I got another one alone and it is still thriving. There may be more to them than just what is said on the internet. Had mine for months.

[@BlakesAquatics]

Could be 👍

[@valiaudet3415]

I've had my Borneo's a few weeks. Today I'm seeing tiny babies. A lot. Wishing them well.

[@onebigadvocado6376]

Hey Blake good vid, is that a fluval 9? Or is it a 15g? Did you boost the flow besides the (pretty strong) pump in that tank?

[@BlakesAquatics]

15, running 100% stock

[@onebigadvocado6376]

@@BlakesAquatics Immediately after I posted I watched your update video where that all became very clear 🤦 Thanks for your patience - do you think the 9 would be big enough for 3 suckers? They look like super fun little fish

[@BlakesAquatics]

@@onebigadvocado6376 yeah mate I have a 9 as well that would be fine for 3

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

awesome little guys

[@snowyk94]

Got one yesterday and found it dried out next to the tank :'( ninja fish. Guess it needs a tight lid!

[@BlakesAquatics]

Sorry to hear

[@breebisshop7325]

Shrimp safe for adults, they will take out baby shrimp like other small live food

[@K15_08]

Can they live with angelfish?

[@BlakesAquatics]

I'd say angels will bully them

[@maniniscapes1936]

😎

[@viralgarbage9668]

much better than pleaco fish

[@steviewonder87]

I Think, BORNEO isn't Malaysia. It's INDONESIA.. Cool Tank by the way.. :)

[@BlakesAquatics]

Well technically Borneos 4 provinces lie within Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Cheers

[@danialroslan1531]

Borneo is the island. Within the island, there are 4 provinces shared by 3 countries. Sabah & Sarawak - Malaysia, Kalimantan - Indonesia, and Brunei itself

[@BlakesAquatics]

@@danialroslan1531 thank you