All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Borneo Sucker Loach

Gastromyzon borneensis

Also known as borneo sucker, hillstream loach, borneo hillstream loach, gastromyzon, butterfly loach, sucker loach, borneo loach, stone sucker, ガストロミゾン・ボルネンシス, 婆罗洲吸盘鱼, 坦克鱼

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A small, flattened loach shaped like a sucker disc, with brown skin covered in pale gold spots and fins that spread flat against rocks. It is kept for its odd shape and constant grazing on stones and glass in cool, fast-flowing hillstream tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

20 to 24 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 3 or more

Diet

Omnivore: grazes biofilm and algae, plus algae wafers, blanched vegetables and small frozen foods such as bloodworm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern Borneo: Sabah, Malaysia (Kinabalu area river basins)

Breeding

It has rarely been bred in aquariums, and little is recorded about its spawning. Most fish in the trade are wild caught.

Good to know

Needs strong water flow, high oxygen and cool water, so avoid warm tropical setups; males can squabble over territory. Several Gastromyzon and Beaufortia species are sold under the same names, so identification is often uncertain.