Ogilvie's lizard loach

Homaloptera ogilviei

Also known as Ogilvie's hillstream loach, Red lizard hillstream loach, Ogilvie's lizard hillstream loach

FreshwaterFish

Ogilvie's lizard loach (Homaloptera ogilviei) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 70–79°F (21–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 2.4 in (6 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Origin: Malay Peninsula and western Borneo
Family: Balitoridae

Overview

A smaller, forest-stream lizard loach that takes to sunken wood as readily as to rock, so give it both in a flowing, oxygenated tank and keep several together. It stays on the bottom and rests on the tips of its outspread fins, grazing surface film and picking at fine foods between times. It is peaceful and pairs well with other gentle, flow-tolerant fish that share its clean, cool-leaning water. Offer fine sinking foods, crushed wafers, and small frozen items alongside the biofilm it grazes. A tank of around 75 liters with steady current suits a group.

In the wild

Ogilvie's lizard loach lives in clear forest streams of the Malay Peninsula and Borneo, in slightly softer, gentler water than the fiercest torrent species demand. Set up moving, oxygen-rich water at 21 to 26 degrees Celsius and pH about 6.0 to 7.5, with smooth stones and plenty of driftwood roots and branches for it to perch on. Good light keeps a grazing film on the hard surfaces.

Good to know

Homaloptera ogilviei is a compact, mottled river loach in the family Balitoridae, reaching about 6 centimeters, described by Alfred in 1967. When at rest it props itself on the very tips of its pectoral, pelvic, anal, and tail fins, using wood as happily as stone for a perch. Like its relatives it is not known to breed in home tanks.

Did you know

Where its torrent-loving relatives grip bare rock, this species is just as content perched on submerged hardwood, a lizard loach that will trade a cliff face for a tree trunk.

Tank mates

Ogilvie's lizard loach is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.