All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Gastromyzon crenastus

Gastromyzon crenastus

Also known as borneo sucker, borneo hillstream loach, gastromyzon loach, hillstream loach, butterfly loach, stone loach, ガストロミゾン, 婆罗洲平鳍鳅

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A small, flattened hillstream loach from fast, clear Bornean streams, with a sucker-like underside and a brown body marked with pale spots or vermiculations. Keepers like it for its odd, limpet-like shape and its habit of grazing over smooth rocks in a current.

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 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 (Sarawak, Malaysia)

Breeding

Breeding in aquariums is rarely reported and appears to need a mature, long-established stream setup. Little is known about the details for this species.

Good to know

Needs cool, very well oxygenated water with strong flow and lots of smooth rocks, so it does not suit warm, still community tanks. Many Gastromyzon species are sold under the same trade names and are hard to tell apart.