All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Cranbrook's Gastromyzon

Gastromyzon cranbrooki

Also known as borneo sucker, borneo hillstream loach, hillstream loach, gastromyzon, borneo sucker loach, cranbrooki loach, ガストロミゾン・クランブルッキ, 婆罗洲爬岩鳅

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This small, flattened loach has a sucker-like body for clinging to rocks in fast water. It is brown with pale yellowish spots and markings. Keepers like it for grazing algae and for its unusual, limpet-like way of moving over stones.

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, plus sinking pellets, algae wafers and small frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern Borneo: Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia

Breeding

It has rarely been bred in aquariums and little is known about how it spawns. Most fish sold are caught in the wild.

Good to know

It needs cool, well-oxygenated water with a strong current and mature rocks covered in biofilm, so it does poorly in warm, still tanks. Many Gastromyzon species look alike and are often sold under the wrong names.