TankBud

Spotted hillstream loach

Gastromyzon punctulatus

Also known as Borneo sucker, Gastromyzon punctatus

FreshwaterFish

Spotted hillstream loach (Gastromyzon punctulatus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–75°F
20–24°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
2.6 in
6.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Origin
Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia and West Kalimantan, Indonesia)

Overview

The spotted hillstream loach is a peaceful bottom dweller for a cool, fast, well-oxygenated tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The spotted hillstream loach's paired fins fan out flat to the sides and work like a suction skirt. That grip holds it on bare rock in current that would sweep most fish away. The same hold lets it creep along the glass and rockwork while it scrapes off algae.

Caring for the spotted hillstream loach

Give spotted hillstream loaches a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more, with a wide footprint, smooth pebbles and flat stones. The tank must be well aged, with plenty of grazing surface, since a new bare setup will starve them. They are strictly freshwater fish, not brackish, and have no land or paludarium needs.

Keep the water cool, at 68 to 75°F (20 to 24°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Sustained temperatures above about 26 to 27°C stress them unless oxygen stays very high. That makes them a poor match for warm-water tanks such as discus setups.

They need strong current and high turnover, around 10 to 15 times the tank volume per hour. Run an oversized filter plus powerheads or airstones to keep oxygen high.

They cling to rocks and glass and graze biofilm and algae all day. On top of that, feed a mostly vegetable, low-protein diet.

Keep a group of four or more, and five or more is better. They are peaceful, though they can get mildly territorial over a favorite grazing spot within the group. There is no established record of them being bred in home aquariums.

Good to know

Gastromyzon punctulatus is a small hillstream loach in the family Gastromyzontidae. Hobby specimens often stay around 4 to 6 cm, a little under the maximum size that FishBase lists.

In the wild

Spotted hillstream loaches come from fast, rocky streams in Borneo, across Sarawak in Malaysia and West Kalimantan in Indonesia. The water there runs cool, clear and heavily oxygenated. It tumbles over smooth, water-worn rocks coated in algae and biofilm.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The spotted hillstream loach 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 spotted hillstream loach need?

A spotted hillstream loach needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a spotted hillstream loach need?

A spotted hillstream loach is comfortable at 68–75°F (20–24°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a spotted hillstream loach eat?

A spotted hillstream loach grazes biofilm and algae from rocks and glass all day. Feed it a mostly vegetable, low-protein diet on top of that, in a well-aged tank with plenty of grazing surface.

How big does a spotted hillstream loach get?

An adult spotted hillstream loach reaches about 2.6 in (6.5 cm).

Related species