As an experienced aquarist, I’ve gotten this question many times from fellow fish keepers worried about keeping hillstream loaches with their precious shrimp Let me break down everything you need to know about these fascinating fish and their relationship with shrimp tank mates!
The Quick Answer
Hillstream loaches generally don’t eat adult shrimp! Despite being omnivores these peaceful fish prefer munching on algae biofilm, and tiny food particles. Their small mouth size (2-3 inches) makes it physically impossible for them to eat adult shrimp (1.5-2.5 inches).
Compatibility Deep Dive
Tank Requirements for Both Species
Here’s what you need to know about keeping hillstream loaches and shrimp together
| Parameter | Hillstream Loach | Shrimp |
|---|---|---|
| Tank Size | 50+ gallons | 10+ gallons |
| Water Temp | 68-75°F | 57-84°F |
| pH Level | 7.0-8.0 | 6.5-8.0 |
| Water Flow | High | Low-Medium |
| Substrate | Sand | Gravel/Sand |
| Tank Type | Planted | Planted |
Making It Work
To successfully keep hillstream loaches and shrimp together, you’ll need:
- A well-planted tank (minimum 50 gallons)
- Lots of hiding spots
- Established tank (6+ months old)
- Good filtration system
- Clean, oxygen-rich water
Feeding Habits & Behavior
What Hillstream Loaches Actually Eat
These guys are pretty chill eaters! Their main diet consists of:
- Algae
- Biofilm
- Brine shrimp
- Larvae
- Frozen bloodworms
Natural Behavior
I’ve watched these fish for hours (yeah, I’m that kinda fish nerd ), and here’s what I’ve noticed:
- They’re super peaceful
- Prefer hiding over confrontation
- Spend most time grazing on surfaces
- Don’t show predatory behavior toward adult shrimp
Best Shrimp Species to Keep with Hillstream Loaches
Cherry Shrimp
- Size: 1-1.5 inches
- Very peaceful
- Easy to breed
- Perfect tank mate
Amano Shrimp
- Size: 1.5-2.5 inches
- Hardy
- Great algae eaters
- Compatible temperament
Setting Up the Perfect Tank
Essential Equipment
- Strong filtration system
- Two powerheads (opposite directions)
- Plenty of plants (Java moss, Hornwort)
- Smooth rocks for hiding
- White sand substrate
Tank Maintenance Tips
- Regular water changes
- Monitor water parameters
- Keep algae growth controlled
- Ensure proper oxygenation
Common Concerns Addressed
“Will they eat baby shrimp?”
While it’s technically possible, it’s rare. Providing plenty of hiding spots and dense plant coverage will protect shrimplets.
“What about water flow issues?”
This is trickier! Create zones in your tank:
- High flow areas for loaches
- Protected areas with plants for shrimp
- Use rocks/decorations to break up current
Real Experience from Fish Keepers
I’ve gathered feedback from multiple aquarists, and here’s what they say:
“My hillstream loaches have been living with cherry shrimp for over a year with no issues!” – Forum user Sherry
“They completely ignore my adult Amano shrimp and focus on algae instead.” – Forum user Figgy
Pro Tips for Success
- Start with a mature tank
- Introduce loaches after shrimp colony is established
- Feed varied diet to prevent opportunistic hunting
- Maintain clean water conditions
- Monitor behavior during first few weeks
Warning Signs to Watch For
Keep an eye out for:
- Stressed shrimp behavior
- Hiding more than usual
- Declining shrimp population
- Aggressive behavior from loaches
From my experience and research, hillstream loaches make excellent tank mates for shrimp when proper conditions are met. Just remember to:
- Provide enough space (50+ gallons)
- Create proper hiding spots
- Maintain good water quality
- Feed properly
These amazing fish can definitely coexist with your shrimp friends – just give them the right environment and they’ll thrive together!
Have you kept hillstream loaches with shrimp? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
Are Hillstream Loach aggressive?
No, Hillstream loaches are not aggressive. They are peaceful, community-friendly fish that prefer the company of their own kind or other non-aggressive species. However, they can exhibit territorial behavior, especially in smaller tanks or when competing for algae-rich areas. This behavior is typically harmless and rarely leads to injury.
Will Hillstream Loach eat shrimp?
Hillstream loaches are generally peaceful fish with a diet primarily focused on algae, biofilm, and small microorganisms. While they are unlikely to actively hunt healthy shrimp, they may consume baby shrimp or weakened ones if they come across them. If you plan to keep Hillstream loaches with shrimp, providing ample hiding spaces like moss or caves for the shrimp is essential. Popular shrimp-safe tankmates include cherry shrimp and Amano shrimp.
Hillstream Loach Care Guide – Amazing Oddball Algae Eater
FAQ
Can I keep hillstream loaches with shrimp?
What fish can live with hillstream loaches? They get along with most peaceful community fish that are similarly sized and won’t fin nip them. We’ve kept them with goldfish, livebearers, shrimp, snails, tetras, danios, and other schooling fish with no problems.
What do hillstream loaches eat?
Hillstream loaches are omnivores that primarily graze on algae and biofilm in their natural habitat. In aquariums, they will readily consume algae wafers, sinking pellets, and various frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.
Do hillstream loaches eat brine shrimp?
Hillstream Loaches are omnivorous and will eat a variety of foods. They should be fed a diet that consists mainly of live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, tubifex worms, glass worms, daphnia, white Mosquito larvae, other insect larvae and Brine Shrimp.
What do hillstream loach eat?
Additionally, the hillstream loach may accept some high quality dry foods like sinking pellets, fish flakes, algae wafers. Feed once daily and make sure not to overfeed as this can lead to health issues. They will feed on algae growth in the aquarium substrate/glass.
What fish mate with hillstream loaches?
Dwarf shrimp make an ideal tank mate for Hillstream Loaches, as they are peaceful and non-aggressive. Compared to other fish in the tank, they are small enough that they won’t intimidate or harm the loaches. Amano Shrimp, Red Cherry Shrimp, or Blue Dream Shrimp would all work well.
Do hillstream butterfly loaches eat dwarf shrimp?
They are can be paired with fish species like Guppies, Platys, Corydoras catfish, Rasboras, Bristlenose Plecos, Neon tetras, Swordtails, Pygmy Cories, Otocinclus Catfish, Panda Garra, etc. Hillstream butterfly loaches are certainly not predatory fish, so they will not hunt down adult dwarf shrimp. However, they are still omnivores.
Can you keep dwarf shrimp with hillstream loaches?
And in case you were wondering, yes, you can keep dwarf shrimp with your Hillstream Loaches. Dwarf shrimp make an ideal tank mate for Hillstream Loaches, as they are peaceful and non-aggressive. Compared to other fish in the tank, they are small enough that they won’t intimidate or harm the loaches.
What is a hillstream loach fish?
The hillstream loach fishes are referred to as Cypriniformes and Cobitoidea, with the superfamily further split into eight subgroups. At first glance, one might confuse the loach with the cat fish. However, they are totally different even though they share a few similarities. Some features of the hillstream loach fish are:
Do hillstream loaches live together?
As discussed above, hillstream loaches are freshwater fish, and as they have peaceful nature, they prefer to live in a community. You can also keep them with shrimps, live plans, snails, and non-aggressive fish. If you want to keep your hillstream loaches together, make sure that you keep three loaches in a school.