All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Zebra Borneo Sucker

Gastromyzon zebrinus

Also known as zebra hillstream loach, zebra gastromyzon, borneo sucker, hillstream loach, butterfly loach, borneo sucker loach, ガストロミゾン・ゼブリヌス, 斑马琵琶鱼, 婆罗洲吸盘鱼

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This is a small, flattened hillstream loach with a sucker-like body and a pale-on-dark banded pattern across its back. Keepers like it because it grazes rocks all day and looks unusual, and it suits a fast-flowing stream setup.

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 algae wafers, small frozen foods and blanched vegetables

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (Rajang and nearby river basins)

Breeding

It has seldom been bred in home aquariums, and almost all fish on sale are caught in the wild. Breeding is thought to need a mature, well-oxygenated stream tank with plenty of biofilm.

Good to know

It needs cool, very clean, highly oxygenated water with strong flow and mature rocks covered in biofilm, so do not put it in a new tank. It is often confused with other Gastromyzon and Beaufortia species that are sold under the same trade names.