Zebra Borneo sucker

Gastromyzon zebrinus

Also known as Sambas Borneo sucker, Striped Borneo sucker

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 2.9 in (7.3 cm)
Minimum tank: 24 gal (90 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Origin: Upper Sambas basin, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia
Family: Gastromyzontidae

Overview

This is a hillstream sucker that lives clamped to rock in fast water, so the tank has to provide strong flow, high oxygen, and above all a mature film of algae and biofilm to graze. It is a peaceful, social fish best kept in a small group of at least three or four, and it mixes well with other calm current-lovers such as small rasboras, danios, gobies, and fellow hillstream loaches. It grazes the bottom all day and needs that living film to survive; occasional frozen meaty foods are fine, but too much protein harms it. Give it a tank of around 90 liters with a strong current and clean, oxygen-rich water.

In the wild

Gastromyzon zebrinus is known only from the upper Sambas basin in West Kalimantan, on Indonesian Borneo, where it lives in swift, shallow, oxygen-saturated streams among riffles and cascades. Recreate those torrent conditions with 22 to 26 degrees Celsius, a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, strong flow, and smooth stones left to grow a natural film of algae. Strong light encourages the algae film these fish depend on, while plants matter far less than current and oxygen.

Good to know

This is a hillstream loach of the family Gastromyzontidae, reaching about 7.3 centimeters, with fused, wing-like fins that clamp its flat body to rock and let it hold position and graze in fierce current. Its name refers to the crisp pale bars over dark ground that give it a zebra pattern. It is not known to have bred in home aquaria.

Did you know

Borneo suckers come in many patterns across different rivers, spotted, marbled, or plain, but this species from the Sambas wears bold zebra bars, one drainage's own take on the family look.