Edit Erromyzon sinensis
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Name
Scientific name
Erromyzon sinensis
Described by
Authority Chen, Year 1980, Bracketed
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Common names
Not recorded
Photograph credits
All 6 credited
Summary
Erromyzon sinensis is a gastromyzontid loach from the Xi Jiang (West River) system in southern China, mostly in Guangxi. It is extremely ra…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
55mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 75 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 18–24°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
2–10dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
China, He, Li, Xi, Zhu
Writing
Etymology
Erromyzon: from the Latin erro, meaning 'to wander, err, go the wrong way, make an error', and Greek μύζω (myzo), meaning 'to suckle'. sinensis: 'from China'.
Distribution
Native to the Xi Jiang (West River) system in southern China, the major tributary of the great Zhu Jiang (Pearl River) with type locality given as 'West River,…
Habitat
Restricted to shallow, fast-flowing, highly-oxygenated headwaters and minor tributaries characterised by stretches of riffles and runs broken up by pools or ca…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with base dimensions of 75 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent should be the smallest considered.
Maintenance
Most importantly the water must be clean and well-oxygenated so we suggest the use of an over-sized filter as a minimum requirement. Turnover should ideally be…
Water conditions
Temperature: Its natural waters lie in a humid, subtropical region where air temperatures rarely drop below 60°F/15.5°C and may be much higher in summer. For g…
Diet
Much of the natural diet is likely to be composed of benthic algae plus associated micro-organisms which are rasped from solid surfaces. In captivity it will a…
Behaviour and compatibility
Largely peaceful although its environmental requirements limit the choice of suitable tankmates somewhat, so research your choices before purchase in order to …
Sexual dimorphism
Undocumented as far as we're aware but larger, heavier-bodied specimens are likely to be female.
Reproduction
Unrecorded in aquaria although its unidentified congener E. sp. ‘ER02′ has been bred by German aquarist Gerhard Ott. Nuptial males were observed to select a pa…
Notes
This species is extremely rare to nonexistent in the aquarium trade although its name has been widely-misapplied to congeners such as the unidentified E. sp. '…
References
References
6 on this profile