TankBud

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
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Origin
Sadong and Lupar basins, Sarawak, Malaysia

Overview

The starry Borneo sucker is a striking little hillstream loach for a river tank with strong current. It is a difficult species, best for experienced hands.

Did you know

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

Caring for the starry Borneo sucker

Give starry Borneo suckers a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or more, with good flow and room for a group. A spread of smooth, dark, algae-covered grazing stone over a fine base shows the fish off. Bright light feeds the algae they graze.

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 current, with vigorous surface movement to keep oxygen high.

Its diet is mostly biofilm, so mature the tank first. Supplement with fine sinking foods and finely crushed wafers.

Keep a peaceful group of five or six, and give them time to map out their grazing patches when first settled. Choose small, calm tank mates that can hold their own in strong current. Its spawning has not been documented in tanks.

Good to know

Gastromyzon stellatus is a member of the hillstream loach family Gastromyzontidae. Tan described it in 2006. Its name means studded with stars, for the many pale spots scattered over its dark body.

In the wild

The starry Borneo sucker comes from the Sadong and Lupar systems in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It lives on stone in fast, clear, oxygen-rich water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The starry 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 starry Borneo sucker need?

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

What temperature and pH does a starry Borneo sucker need?

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

What does a starry Borneo sucker eat?

A starry Borneo sucker lives mostly on biofilm, so it needs a mature tank. Supplement it with fine sinking foods and finely crushed wafers.

How big does a starry Borneo sucker get?

An adult starry Borneo sucker reaches about 2.4 in (6.2 cm).

Related species