All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Gastromyzon viriosus

Gastromyzon viriosus

Also known as borneo sucker, borneo hillstream loach, gastromyzon loach, hillstream loach, butterfly loach, stingray loach, ガストロミゾン, 婆罗洲吸鳅

This small Bornean hillstream loach has a flattened, sucker-like body that lets it cling to rocks in fast water, with a brown body covered in fine pale spots. Keepers like it for its odd shape and constant grazing on rocks and glass.

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; offer algae wafers, blanched vegetables and small frozen foods such as bloodworm and daphnia

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Borneo: Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia (northern Borneo hill streams)

Breeding

Captive breeding is rare and mostly accidental in mature, well-oxygenated stream tanks. Little is known about its spawning habits.

Good to know

Needs cool, very clean, well-oxygenated water with strong flow and rock surfaces that grow biofilm. Gastromyzon species are often sold under mixed or wrong names, so identification can be uncertain; males spar over territory but rarely cause injury.