Borneo sucker aka Hong Kong pleco...

[ashhhh]

picked up a couple of these interesting little 'suckers' from the LFS, and have found plenty of info on the net about them, but was wondering if anyone on here has had any experience with them they would like to share :D

[ashhhh]

they look like this...pretty cool huh
[img:6031b3aa1b]http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/data/502/practice.jpg[/img:6031b3aa1b]

[Kimbo]

they look prety cool are they also known as borneo scooters?

[jamosfish]

I hope you have a very high current in your tank?

They won't thrive unless they have one! Awesome little critters though, congrats!

jamosfish

[gc]

My favorite fish, they're also known as hillstream loaches. Use a strong light to make sure there is plenty of algea to grase upon and a powerhead to make fast currents going through a pile of smooth round rocks. i know from experience that importing them stops them from growing any larger, so i hope you got some big ones!

[ashhhh]

yeah, plenty of O2 and water movin and they are in with my bristlys atm.
They are about 4cm, and from what Ive read they dont get too big.

 How big are yours GC?

I also thought they would be primarily algea eaters but most of the articles I have read, say that they graze on the little crustaceans and organisms living in the algea, maybe baby brineshrimp along with algea could supplement this..
 ~or~
I was thinking getting some wild grown filament algea which should contain plenty of freshwater bugs and critters, there is a few clean, constantly running spots up the top of springbrook I know of and maybe a couple of clown loaches to snap up any snails lurking...hmmm

[gc]

Mine are about 3cm and havn't grown a mm in 18 months, allthough they seem very healthy.
I sometimes see them eating brine shrimp and flakes.
I think collecting stuff from rivers is illegal, watch out!

[ashhhh]

[quote:bcb689c457]I think collecting stuff from rivers is illegal, watch out![/quote:bcb689c457]

what isn't illegal nowadays :roll:
oh well, i guess Ill be breaking the law (again) tommorow :P .....by driving 70 in a 60 zone, with my arm on the window sill with the window down and with a bucket full of algea covered rocks on the back seat.....omg, quick call 000 8O

[nem7902]

hmm i might call em later when i can b bothered

[Ronin]

I picked up one of these from the Nerang pet barn, I was worried he wasnt getting enuff to eat so I have been mixing up a paste of algae flakes and thawd out frozen bloodworms and sticking it on the glass just above the water line, he loves it! He comes 1/2 out of the water to get every last bit :)

[Kimbo]

are these breedable in the home aquarium?

[Ronin]

it has been done. heres a link
http://www.loaches.com/hillstream_loaches.html