All fish / Cyprinidae

Mullya Garra

Garra mullya

Also known as mullya garra, sucker fish, indian garra, stone sucker, garra, 穆利亚墨头鱼

A slender, greyish brown stream fish with a dark band along the flank, a dark spot near the tail base and a sucker-like disc under the mouth for grazing on rocks. It is kept by hobbyists who like Indian hillstream biotopes and want an active algae grazer for a well oxygenated tank with smooth stones and current.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Omnivore: biofilm and algae, sinking pellets and wafers, blanched vegetables, bloodworm and other small frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Peninsular India (Western Ghats and Deccan rivers, e.g. Krishna and Godavari basins)

Breeding

It scatters eggs over gravel and rocks in flowing water during the monsoon season in the wild. Captive spawning is rarely reported and is not well documented.

Good to know

Grows larger than many sellers suggest and can squabble with its own kind and other bottom grazers over territory, so give plenty of rock cover. It needs cool, clean, fast moving water and a tight lid, as garras can climb and jump.