TankBud

Serian Borneo sucker

Gastromyzon scitulus

Also known as Neat Borneo sucker

FreshwaterFish

Serian Borneo sucker (Gastromyzon scitulus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–77°F
20–25°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Origin
Sadong basin near Serian, Sarawak, Malaysia

Overview

The Serian Borneo sucker is a neat, peaceful grazer for a river tank with fast, clean water. It is a fish for experienced keepers, not beginners.

Did you know

The Serian Borneo sucker's species name, scitulus, is a small compliment in Latin, meaning neat or elegant. Its describers picked it for the trim, well-turned-out pattern the fish wears in life.

Caring for the Serian Borneo sucker

Give Serian Borneo suckers a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more, with good flow and a spread of grazing stone. A floor of smooth, rounded, algae-covered cobbles over sand and gravel gives a group room to settle.

Keep the water at 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, mildly acidic to neutral. Run strong flow, and keep oxygen high with vigorous surface movement.

It feeds mainly on biofilm, so it needs a mature tank with established growth. Back that up with fine sinking foods and finely crushed wafers.

Keep a group of five or six. It spends its day fastened to stone, grazing the algal film, and treats tank mates and keepers alike as passing scenery. Choose small, gentle companions that share its taste for strong, clean current. It has not been recorded spawning in aquariums.

Good to know

Gastromyzon scitulus is a member of the hillstream loach family Gastromyzontidae. Tan and Leh described it in 2006.

In the wild

The Serian Borneo sucker comes from the Sadong basin near the town of Serian, in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It lives on stone in warm, fast, clear hill streams.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Serian Borneo sucker is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Serian Borneo sucker need?

A Serian Borneo sucker needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Serian Borneo sucker need?

A Serian Borneo sucker is comfortable at 68–77°F (20–25°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Serian Borneo sucker eat?

A Serian Borneo sucker feeds mainly on biofilm, so it needs a mature tank with established growth. Back that up with fine sinking foods and finely crushed wafers.

How big does a Serian Borneo sucker get?

An adult Serian Borneo sucker reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

Related species