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

Keep them in a group of four or more, with five or more being better, in a cool tank of at least 75 liters held at 20 to 24 C and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. They are peaceful bottom dwellers that cling to rocks and glass and graze biofilm and algae all day, though they can get mildly territorial over a favorite grazing spot within the group. Sustained temperatures above about 26 to 27 C stress them unless oxygen stays very high, so they are a poor match for warm-water tanks like discus setups. Feed a mostly vegetable, low-protein diet, and lean on a well-aged tank with plenty of grazing surface, since a new bare setup will starve them.

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, tumbling over smooth water-worn rocks coated in algae and biofilm. To match that, give them a mature tank of at least 75 liters with a wide footprint, smooth pebbles and flat stones, and strong current. Keep the water cool at 20 to 24 C with a pH from 6.5 to 7.5. They need high turnover, around 10 to 15 times the tank volume per hour, so run an oversized filter plus powerheads or airstones to keep oxygen high.

Good to know

This is a small hillstream loach in the family Gastromyzontidae. FishBase lists a maximum size of 6.5 cm, though hobby specimens often sit around 4 to 6 cm. It is strictly freshwater, not brackish, and has no land or paludarium needs. There is no established record of it being bred in home aquaria.

Did you know

Their bodies are built for life in fast water. The paired fins fan out flat to the sides and work like a suction skirt, letting the fish hold its grip on bare rock in current that would sweep most fish away. That same hold lets them creep along the glass and rockwork while they scrape off algae.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

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.

How big does a Spotted hillstream loach get?

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

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