All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Russet Borneo Sucker

Gastromyzon russulus

Also known as borneo sucker loach, gastromyzon russulus, hillstream loach, russet gastromyzon, borneo hillstream loach, stone loach, ガストロミゾン・ルッスルス, 婆罗洲坦克

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A small, flattened loach shaped like a sucker disc, with a reddish brown body covered in pale spots and orange edges on the fins. It clings to stones in fast hill streams and is kept for its unusual shape and its busy grazing in river-style aquariums.

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 5 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Sarawak, northwestern Borneo (Malaysia)

Breeding

It has been bred only now and then in captivity, mostly by accident in well-run, mature stream tanks. Males defend small territories and the eggs are thought to be laid in gravel pits.

Good to know

It needs cool, well oxygenated, fast-flowing water and rocks covered in biofilm, and it does poorly in warm or still tanks. Many similar Gastromyzon species are sold under the same names, so the real identity is often uncertain.