Does anyone have any knowledge of the Butterfly Pleco??

[jordonsmum]

The photos that i've seen online don't match what these two look like at all. Does anyone know anything about them? How to sex them, pref in housing, food etc.... THanks

[jordonsmum]

Here's what they look like. Kind of cool. They use their fins as suction cups on the glass.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_5185.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_5194.jpg

[jumpingtadpoles]

That is a chinese hillstream loach. They are a fish that really requires high oxygen int he water to thrive. Most people that I know that have kept these beauties have little success with them, unless they have created a river tank, with very high currents in them. They eat a varied diet, of just about everything, and other then needing the high oxygen/high water current's, rthey are a very hardy, easy and pleasant fish to keep. These fish alone make me want to set-up a river tank one day!

Googling Beaufortia kweichowensis will give you several hits on the species you have :)

[jordonsmum]

Right now I have them in a 33 gal with an Emperor 280 filter at one end and a large air stone creating air flow at the other. Round pebbles for gravel and about to create slate caves for habitat. Sound ok????? Thanks so much. I've come across a link that was VERY helpful and it looks just like them.

[Melody]

According to my fishy records, they're Beaufortia kweichowensis (say THAT 10 times fast). They did very well for me until I tried to move them to a new tank - they died in no time. Very cool fish. The do need their oxygenated water - lots of movement. Mine used to hang out in the direct stream of the bubbles from the bubble wand. It would seem from my experience that they do best in a well established tank, but that's just a guess. Some driftwood would probably go over well.

[BC_Kron]

I have nearly bought these guys on sooooo many occasions. Do you know off hand how big they get and if they can tolerate lower ph levels?

Jackie

[Melody]

They did fine in my tap water, which was around neutral, but I think they need to be 7+. The water has to be very well oxygenated, which is more difficult in lower pH settings I believe, but don't quote me on that.

[jordonsmum]

I've found a few more websites with help. They prefer between 7.2-8 and they grow up to 4". I've been watching them when they swim. They actually flutter their fins like butterflies. Very cool!!!!

[BC_Kron]

They did fine in my tap water, which was around neutral, but I think they need to be 7+. The water has to be very well oxygenated, which is more difficult in lower pH settings I believe, but don't quote me on that.

My Retroculus Xinguensis require highly oxygenated water, and a ph of 6.2. I simply use a powerhead with venturi valve to aerate the water. Works very well. My ph stays constant, and they are doing well. No real help for topic at hand......

cheers;Bill

[Melody]

Its always good to have more info/experience to go on, thanks for posting yours:smile: . I think were I Jackie I'd give them a whirl at the lower pH... maybe just get a couple at first & keep that water churning and of course, a long acclimation. I think it was Loaches online that said pH 7.

The thing about guidelines is they're just that - optimum recommendations. The good sources base it on where the fish is usually found in the wild when applicable. That doesn't mean they can't adapt. With these ones the oxygenation seems to be most important, so I think its a safe bet. Who knows, since they haven't bred in captivity to my knowledge, maybe the lower pH will trigger it!

They sure didn't like the new tank though - there was no cycle (seeded) and I fed extra to cover the lack of algae, but they didn't last long in there. Granted I stressed them royally trying to catch them - they have to be off the glass to net them or you can hurt them, so I was after them for hours.

Speaking of which, make sure the person in the store knows that they have to flutter off the glass themselves to net them. It was actually Kramers who taught me that.

[jordonsmum]

Its always good to have more info/experience to go on, thanks for posting yours:smile: . I think were I Jackie I'd give them a whirl at the lower pH... maybe just get a couple at first & keep that water churning and of course, a long acclimation. I think it was Loaches online that said pH 7.

The thing about guidelines is they're just that - optimum recommendations. The good sources base it on where the fish is usually found in the wild when applicable. That doesn't mean they can't adapt. With these ones the oxygenation seems to be most important, so I think its a safe bet. Who knows, since they haven't bred in captivity to my knowledge, maybe the lower pH will trigger it!

They sure didn't like the new tank though - there was no cycle (seeded) and I fed extra to cover the lack of algae, but they didn't last long in there. Granted I stressed them royally trying to catch them - they have to be off the glass to net them or you can hurt them, so I was after them for hours.

Speaking of which, make sure the person in the store knows that they have to flutter off the glass themselves to net them. It was actually Kramers who taught me that.

YESSSS!!!! Thank you Mel!!! I almost rung the girls neck at the LFS when she tried to PULL THEM OFF THE GLASS IN THE NET BY HAND:realmad: :mad: . That's a no no.. try this site for more info. I've found it usefull www.loaches.com (http://www.loaches.com/) (click on "hillstream loach) . I built them a "douplex" cave today. one big cave devided by a slate wall. I also built one for my bristlenose. All three were in their own caves and claiming them before I had my hand out of the tanks...LOL I put an airstone at the back of the butterfly pleco's caves. They seem quite content. Some of the sites say that they are accustom to boulders and not plants and that plants are not necessary. However, we all know that plants help to enhance the oxygen in aquarium environment so I'm planting like crazy.

[Melody]

However, we all know that plants help to enhance the oxygen in aquarium environment so I'm planting like crazy.

Except at night, when they do the reverse. As long as you keep the water movement going at night all should be well though. I didn't have a lot of live plants in the tank so I can't say for sure how they'd do at night in a heavily planted tank.