All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Gastromyzon aequabilis

Gastromyzon aequabilis

Also known as borneo sucker, hillstream loach, borneo hillstream loach, gastromyzon loach, stone loach, borneo loach, ガストロミゾン, 婆罗洲吸盘鱼

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A small, flattened hillstream loach with a sucker-like underside and brown body marked with darker mottling and pale spots. It clings to rocks in fast water and grazes biofilm, which makes it an interesting choice for river-style tanks with strong flow.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

20 to 24 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 4 or more

Diet

Omnivore: grazes biofilm and algae; offer sinking algae wafers, soft vegetables and small frozen foods such as bloodworm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Borneo: northern Sarawak and Brunei (Baram and nearby river basins)

Breeding

Rarely bred in aquariums. Spawning has occasionally happened by chance in mature, well-oxygenated tanks with plenty of rock, but no reliable method is known.

Good to know

Needs cool, highly oxygenated water with strong current and a well-established tank with plenty of biofilm. Many Gastromyzon species look very alike and are often sold under the wrong name.