Edit Gastromyzon monticola

You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.

Name

Scientific name

Gastromyzon monticola

Described by

Authority Vaillant, Year 1889, Bracketed

Family

Gastromyzontidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 12 credited

Summary

Gastromyzon monticola is a hillstream loach from streams draining Mount Kinabalu into Marudu Bay, and the Wariu basin, in Sabah, Malaysian …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

85mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 75 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–24°C, pH 6–8.5

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Malaysia, Borneo, Kinarom, Tempasuk, Wariu

Writing

Etymology

Gastromyzon: from the Greek gaster, meaning 'stomach' and myzo, meaning 'to suckle'. monticola: from the Latin monti, meaning 'montane', and cola, meaning 'lik…

Distribution

Known only from streams emptying into Marudu Bay, Kudat Division, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and the Wariu River basin a little further west. The type series was …

Habitat

Gastromyzon spp. are obligate dwellers of swift, shallow streams containing clear, oxygen-saturated water and have been recorded from sea level to 1350 m amsl …

Gastromyzon spp. are obligate dwellers of swift, shallow streams containing clear, oxygen-saturated water and have been recorded from sea level to 1350 m amsl throughout hill regions of Borneo.

They typically inhabit riffles and runs and are often found above or below cascades and waterfalls.

Substrates are generally composed of gravel, rocks, boulders or bedrock carpeted with a rich biofilm formed by algae and other micro-organisms.

Aquatic plants are uncommon and while riparian vegetation may be present these loaches tend to be most abundant in partially or fully-shaded zones.

Field observations have revealed that individuals typically position themselves facing into the flow, either along the sides, behind or under rocks, their specialised morphology (see 'Notes') allowing them to forage and maintain a particular spot without being swept away.

In nature G. monticola occurs sympatrically alongside Garra borneensis, Osteochilus ingeri, Gastromyzon auronigrus, G. cornusaccus, Nemacheilus olivaceus, Glyptothorax major and Glossogobius celebius plus unidentified members of Rasbora, Tor and two Protomyzon spp.

Editing needs JavaScript. This is the text as it was last saved.

Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

Paste the address of the page that says this. What counts as a source

DOI

Paste a DOI and we will look up the rest of the reference. A DOI looks like 10.11646/zootaxa.4694.4.1, and most papers print it on the first page.

Title

Enter the title of the paper, book or page. If you leave it empty, we will use the website's address.

Authors

Separate authors with semicolons, e.g. Tan, H.H.; Ng, P.K.L.

Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

Enter the page that says this, e.g. 218 or 218–221.

Anything worth adding

Describe what you saw, or which part of the source says this.

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of 75 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent should be large enough to house a group.

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: For general care 20 – 24 °C is recommended but it can withstand warmer conditions provided dissolved oxygen levels are maintained. At the locality…

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

Very peaceful although its environmental requirements limit the selection of suitable tankmates somewhat, plus it should not be housed with any much larger, mo…

Sexual dimorphism

Unreported but in congeners observed over time in aquaria adult females are noticeably heavier-bodied and often a little larger than males; the differences bei…

Reproduction

Observations were made by German aquarist Philipp Dickmann and published in a hobbyist magazine during 2001. He collected wild specimens of both G. monticola a…

Notes

This species has probably not been seen in the aquarium trade yet but has occasionally been maintained by private collectors. It can be distinguished from cong…

References

6 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References