All fish / Gastromyzontidae

Sewellia hypsicrateae

Sewellia hypsicrateae

Also known as sewellia loach, hillstream loach, butterfly loach, reticulated hillstream loach

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This is a small, flattened hillstream loach from Vietnam with a sucker-like body and fins spread wide to grip rocks in fast water. It has a tan to brownish body with dark spots or lines, and keepers like it for its odd shape and its habit of grazing algae off stones and glass.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

20 to 24 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Central Vietnam (Thua Thien-Hue / Quang Nam hill streams)

Breeding

Members of this genus have spawned in mature, well-oxygenated hillstream setups, with eggs scattered among rocks and fry grazing biofilm. It happens now and then but is not usually planned, and little has been written about this species in particular.

Good to know

You need cool, clean, well-oxygenated water with strong flow and smooth rocks, because it does poorly in warm or still tanks. It was described only in 2012 and has a small natural range, so many fish sold under this name may be wrongly identified Sewellia species.