Starry Borneo sucker

Gastromyzon stellatus

Also known as Star Borneo sucker, Leopard Borneo sucker loach

FreshwaterFish

Starry Borneo sucker (Gastromyzon stellatus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–77°F (20–25°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 2.4 in (6.2 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Sadong and Lupar basins, Sarawak, Malaysia
Family: Gastromyzontidae

Overview

A striking little Borneo sucker whose pale spots stand out against clean dark rock, especially under bright light that also feeds the algae it grazes. Keep a peaceful group of five or six over smooth stone, and give it time to map out its grazing patch when first settled. Its diet is mostly biofilm, so mature the tank first, then supplement with fine sinking foods and finely crushed wafers. Keep it with small, calm fish that can hold their own in strong current. A tank of around 75 liters with good flow and a spread of dark grazing stone shows the fish off and gives a group room.

In the wild

Gastromyzon stellatus comes from the Sadong and Lupar systems in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, where it lives on stone in fast, clear, oxygen-rich water. Match that with 20 to 25 C, strong current, and vigorous surface movement to keep oxygen high. Use smooth, dark, algae-covered stones over a fine base, and keep pH mildly acidic to neutral at 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

A member of the hillstream loach family Gastromyzontidae, Gastromyzon stellatus reaches about 6.2 centimeters. Tan described it in 2006, and the name stellatus means studded with stars, for the many pale spots scattered over its dark body. Its spawning has not been documented in tanks.

Did you know

Against dark Bornean stone its starry pattern all but disappears when the fish sits still; it becomes obvious mainly when it moves, a scatter of pale spots that seems to switch on and off.