Tiger hillstream loach
Sewellia lineolata
A flat, stingray-like loach from Vietnamese mountain streams that needs strong current, cool water and algae-covered rocks.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2.6 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 22 gallons
- Group
- 6+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Biofilm, algae wafers, small frozen foods
- Origin
- Central Vietnam and the Mekong at Khone Falls, Laos
- Hardier than22%
- Bigger than39%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Tiger hillstream loach tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasTiger hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Panda corydoras.Risky
- OtocinclusTiger hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Otocinclus.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidTiger hillstream loach outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Bristlenose plecoTiger hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Bristlenose pleco.Risky
- Common plecoTiger hillstream loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Amazon sailfin catfish (common pleco).Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Tiger hillstream loach.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Tiger hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Tiger hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- DiscusDiscus need much warmer, still water.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Tiger hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat Tiger hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Tiger hillstream loach: prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for tiger hillstream loaches: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 6.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 5.49 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 2.78 BU
- Min. water
- 68 L net
- Min. footprint
- 75 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 6+ (best 8)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- high
- Body / fins
- depressed flat, normal fins
- Diet type
- algivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Seriously Fish: Sewellia lineolata
Care notes
Tiger hillstream loaches live in fast rocky streams of central Vietnam and near the Khone Falls on the Mekong. They grip stones with their flattened bodies and graze biofilm and algae all day.
They need a mature 20 gallon river-style tank or larger at 68–75°F with very strong flow, around 15–20 tank volumes per hour. Males spar often but ignore other species; warm-water fish such as discus and zebra plecos are a poor match.
Questions
What size tank does a tiger hillstream loach need?
At least 22 gallons (68 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2.6 inches without fins.
How many tiger hillstream loaches should be kept together?
Keep at least 6, ideally 8 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do tiger hillstream loaches need?
68–75 °F, pH 6–7.5 and 1–10 dGH. Tiger hillstream loaches come from Central Vietnam and the Mekong at Khone Falls, Laos.
How long do tiger hillstream loaches live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with tiger hillstream loaches?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Cherry shrimp and Betta. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.