Hillstream loaches with shrimp

By the Shrimp Tank Hub editorsUpdated Oct 26, 2026Research-based

"Hillstream loach" is a collective name for around 200 small, flattened loaches from fast, clear streams in Southeast Asia (The Shrimp Farm). The one you'll usually find for sale is the reticulated or tiger hillstream loach, Sewellia lineolata, a 2–2.5 in fish that looks like a tiny stingray and grips rocks and glass with its fins (The Shrimp Farm, Aquarium Co-Op). It spends the day grazing biofilm and algae. For shrimp keepers it is one of the more interesting fish options, because it wants the same thing cherry shrimp like: cool, clean, well-oxygenated water.

Hillstream loach at a glance

Note that the three references disagree on hardness and pH. Seriously Fish's figures lean soft and slightly acidic, while Aquarium Co-Op prefers a stable pH above 7. Our reading is that stability matters more than the exact number, which suits a shrimp tank anyway.

Will hillstream loaches eat shrimp?

• Adults: no. The Shrimp Farm's tankmates list rates the hillstream loach "does not eat adult shrimp", and its care guide says dwarf shrimp make ideal tank mates. Aquarium Co-Op lists shrimp among the animals it has kept with them "with no problems".
• Shrimplets: possibly. The Shrimp Farm says it is possible for hillstream loaches to eat small shrimp but not likely, because they are more interested in grazing. Aquarium Co-Op says wild fish eat small crustaceans from the river bottom, and Seriously Fish says insect larvae are probably taken opportunistically. Our inference: a newborn shrimplet sitting on a rock the loach is grazing could be eaten, so give babies moss and dense cover.
• Which shrimp: The Shrimp Farm names Amano, red cherry and blue dream shrimp. Its tankmates list notes that Neocaridina like the same cool, well-oxygenated water and don't mind high flow. See Amano shrimp care and cherry shrimp care.

Our reading: hillstream loaches are one of the safer bottom-dwelling fish for a shrimp tank, safer than most loaches. Compare kuhli loaches with shrimp, and see the full list in cherry shrimp tank mates.

Matching the water

The shared zone is our comparison of the published ranges, not a tested target. The overlap is at the cool end of the cherry shrimp range, so a hillstream tank usually needs little or no heating in a typical home; The Shrimp Farm says they do well at room temperature of 65 °F and up. Warm water holds less oxygen, which matters for a fish built for oxygen-rich streams. See shrimp tank temperature, shrimp tank pH and shrimp GH and KH explained.

Flow, oxygen and the lid

• Flow: The Shrimp Farm calls for a moderate, consistent current from a powerhead or filter outlet, and Seriously Fish suggests turning the tank over 15–20 times an hour with an oversized filter plus powerheads or airstones. Aquarium Co-Op disagrees that strong flow is essential: it has kept and bred them in planted 20-gallon tanks with gentle sponge filters. A middle path is a well-oxygenated tank with one higher-flow area and calmer planted corners where shrimp and shrimplets can rest (our suggestion).
• Intake guard: cover filter intakes with a sponge prefilter so shrimplets aren't sucked in (Aquarium Co-Op says the same for loach fry). See shrimp-safe filters.
• Lid: Seriously Fish and Aquarium Co-Op both say a tight-fitting cover is needed because hillstream loaches can climb the glass. See do shrimp need a lid.
• Mature tank only: Seriously Fish says never to add them to a biologically immature setup, since they need stable water and feed on biofilm; The Shrimp Farm also says fully cycled, with weekly temperature-matched water changes. See how to cycle a shrimp tank.
• Hardscape: smooth rocks, fine gravel, driftwood and caves (The Shrimp Farm), which also give shrimp plenty of surfaces to graze.

Feeding a grazer alongside shrimp

This is the part that needs planning, because hillstream loaches and shrimp eat the same biofilm. Aquarium Co-Op says the loaches scrape diatoms, hair algae and sometimes black beard algae, but can't survive on algae alone. The Shrimp Farm feeds frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp plus sinking pellets and algae wafers, and Seriously Fish suggests algae wafers and homemade gel foods with vegetables and spirulina. Seriously Fish also warns that these loaches are often sold thin and need steady food to recover. Our suggestion: feed sinking foods in two or three spots so the loaches don't crowd shrimp off a single wafer, and give the shrimp their own food too. See best shrimp food and algae in a shrimp tank.

Breeding in a shrimp tank

Seriously Fish says Sewellia are arguably the easiest loaches to breed in aquariums, and Aquarium Co-Op has seen them breed in mature tanks full of mulm, algae and hiding spots. The Shrimp Farm says eggs hatch in 2–4 days and adults may eat eggs and fry. Our reading: in a shrimp tank, both fish fry and shrimplets do best with dense moss and leaf litter, and neither population should explode.

How to add hillstream loaches to a shrimp tank

• Shrimp first. Practical Fishkeeping suggests letting the colony build up before adding fish, which also gives the tank time to grow biofilm.
• Buy healthy fish: pick loaches with rounded bellies, not thin ones (Seriously Fish warns many are sold emaciated).
• Quarantine the fish separately. Practical Fishkeeping says many fish medications are not safe for invertebrates. If fish get sick, ask a fish veterinarian or an experienced store about treatment that won't harm the shrimp. See how to quarantine and is copper toxic to shrimp.

Common mistakes

• Adding loaches to a new, unseasoned tank.
• No lid.
• Relying on algae alone for food.
• A warm tropical tank with weak aeration.
• Keeping exactly two males, which may squabble (The Shrimp Farm, Aquarium Co-Op).

Track it

Log temperature, pH, GH and TDS on the free Water Parameter Log printable so you can keep the tank in the range both species share.

Frequently asked questions

Do hillstream loaches eat shrimp?

Not adult shrimp. The Shrimp Farm rates them as not eating adult shrimp, and says eating small shrimp is possible but unlikely.

Can hillstream loaches live with cherry shrimp?

Yes. The Shrimp Farm lists red cherry, blue dream and Amano shrimp as good tank mates, and says Neocaridina like the same cool, well-oxygenated water.

What temperature do hillstream loaches need?

About 68 to 74 °F per The Shrimp Farm and Seriously Fish. Aquarium Co-Op says 65 to 80 °F is acceptable, with more stress at the warm end.

Do hillstream loaches need strong flow?

References disagree. Seriously Fish recommends 15 to 20 turnovers an hour, while Aquarium Co-Op has kept them in planted tanks with gentle sponge filters. Good oxygen and clean water matter most.

How many hillstream loaches should I keep?

A group of 3 or more (The Shrimp Farm), or a single fish (Aquarium Co-Op). Avoid exactly two males, which may squabble.

Do hillstream loaches need a lid?

Yes. Seriously Fish and Aquarium Co-Op say they can climb the glass and need a tight-fitting cover.

Sources: The Shrimp Farm, Shrimp tankmates and compatibility (hillstream loach Sewellia lineolata, up to 3 in, 20+ gallons, moderate–hard, does not eat adult shrimp; Neo shrimp like the same cooler, well-oxygenated water and high flow); The Shrimp Farm, Hillstream loach care guide (collective name for about 200 species, Sewellia most common; 2–2.5 in; pH 6.5–7.5, 68–74 °F, GH 10–20, room temp of 65 °F and up; 20+ gallons, smooth rocks, gravel, driftwood, caves; fully cycled, weekly temperature-matched water changes; moderate consistent current; groups of 3–4; males territorial without real harm; dwarf shrimp ideal tank mates: Amano, red cherry, blue dream; possible but unlikely to eat small shrimp; live and frozen foods, sinking pellets, algae wafers; eggs hatch in 2–4 days, adults may eat eggs and fry); Seriously Fish, Sewellia lineolata (tiger hillstream loach) (65 mm SL; 68–75 °F, pH 6.0–7.5, 1–10 dGH; 30 × 12 in base; 15–20 turnovers an hour; never in an immature tank; tight cover, climbs glass; benthic algae and micro-organisms, insect larvae opportunistically; algae wafers, gel foods; often sold emaciated; needs a group; easiest loach to breed); Aquarium Co-Op, How to care for hillstream loaches (2.5 in; stable pH 7.0–7.8; 65–80 °F, more stress when warm; any appropriately sized filter, kept in planted 20-gallon tanks with sponge filters; tight lid; kept with shrimp, goldfish, livebearers and others with no problems; wild diet includes small crustaceans; graze diatoms, hair algae, sometimes black beard algae but can't live on algae alone; one, or three or more; breeding in mature tanks, cover intakes); Practical Fishkeeping, What can I keep with shrimp? (let the colony build first; many fish medications unsafe for invertebrates); The Shrimp Farm, Red rili shrimp tank set-up and care (cherry-type Neocaridina: 65–85 °F, pH 6.2–8.0, GH 4–8). The shared water zone is our own comparison of these ranges.