Edit Sewellia speciosa
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Name
Scientific name
Sewellia speciosa
Described by
Authority Roberts, Year 1998
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Common names
Not recorded
Photograph credits
All 14 credited
Summary
Sewellia speciosa is a hillstream loach that appears endemic to the Xe Kong river drainage in central Vietnam and southern Laos. It first b…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
55mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 75 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement Very high: hillstream or torrent
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–24°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
1–10dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Laos, Vietnam, Houai Sai, Mekong, Xe Kaman, Xe Kong, Xe Nam Noi, Xe Pian
Writing
Etymology
speciosa: from the Latin speciosus, meaning 'beautiful, showy'.
Distribution
S. speciosa appears endemic to the Xe Kong river drainage which rises in central Vietnam, flows across southern Laos and eventually enters eastern Cambodia whe…
Habitat
Restricted to shallow, fast-flowing, highly-oxygenated headwaters and tributaries characterised by stretches of riffles and runs broken up by pools or cascades…
Aquarium size
Minimum base dimensions of 75 ∗ 30 cm are recommended for general care. Smaller tanks can be used for breeding.
Maintenance
The water must be clean, well-oxygenated, and ideally turn over 15-20 times per hour so we suggest the use of an over-sized filter as a minimum requirement plu…
Water conditions
Temperature: Can tolerate higher temperatures provided its oxygen requirements are maintained but for general aquarium care a value of 20 – 24 °C is recommende…
Diet
Much of the natural diet is composed of benthic algae plus associated micro-organisms although insect larvae are probably taken on an opportunistic basis. Home…
Behaviour and compatibility
In terms of behaviour Sewellia spp. are perhaps the most dominant of the 'sucker belly' group of loaches though they're not generally aggressive towards dissim…
Sexual dimorphism
The most obvious external characteristics are the shape of the head and body when viewed from above, with females having a comparatively broad body and a snout…
Reproduction
Sewellia spp. are arguably the easiest of all loach species to breed in aquaria and success has been achieved with several species. Initial reports mostly desc…
Notes
This species first became available in early 2010 and sometimes appears on trade lists under the vernacular names 'Laos sucker' or 'Laos Sakura sucker'. It's d…
References
References
12 on this profile