Edit Sinogastromyzon wui

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Name

Scientific name

Sinogastromyzon wui

Described by

Authority Fang, Year 1930

Family

Balitoridae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 18 credited

Summary

Sinogastromyzon wui is a hillstream loach known only from parts of the Xi Jiang (West River) watershed in Guangxi and Guangdong, southern C…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

110mm, 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 6.5–8

Hardness

5–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

China, Xi, Zhu

Writing

Etymology

Sinogastromyzon: from the Latin sina, meaning 'from China' (used as a prefix in this case), Greek gaster, meaning stomach, and Greek myzo, meaning 'to suckle'.

Distribution

Known only from parts of the Xi Jiang (West River) watershed, the major affluent of the extensive Zhu Jiang (Pearl River), in Guangxi Autonomous Region and Gua…

Habitat

As adults Sinogastromyzon spp. mostly inhabit the middle and upper reaches of rivers and streams and tends to be restricted to stretches of riffles or rapids w…

Aquarium size

Minimum base dimensions of 75 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent are recommended.

Maintenance

Since this species is an exclusive resident of riffles and rapids in nature it's essential to keep it in a tank set up to resemble such a habitat. Use a substr…

Water conditions

Temperature: Though mountainous Guangxi has a subtropical climate with average air temperatures varying between 62.6 - 73.4°F/17 - 23°C. Provided its oxygen re…

Diet

Sinogastromyzon spp. are specialised micropredators and biofilm grazers feeding on small crustaceans, insect larvae, and other invertebrates with some algae ta…

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

Males have a relatively slimmer body shape, and the angle at which the pectoral-fin meets the head is comparatively sharp, whereas the opposite is true in fema…

Reproduction

Nothing has been recorded in aquaria as far as we know but the congener S. puliensis is known to be a seasonal spawner in nature. It lays demersal eggs and Lia…

Notes

This species is probably the most common member of the genus in the aquarium trade but still not often exported in numbers. Instead it's more often found in mi…

This species is probably the most common member of the genus in the aquarium trade but still not often exported in numbers.

Instead it's more often found in mixed shipments of other wild-collected fishes from southern China, particularly Beaufortia or Pseudogastromyzon spp.

It may appear superficially similar to some congeners but can be told apart by the following combination of characters: presence of scales on upper surface of paired fins and the body between underside of pectoral-fin origin and pelvic-fin origin; regular dark blotches present on dorsal surface of body; no band of muscle muscular on the upper surface of the pelvic-fin base.

Kottelat and Chu (1988)[1] referred to the latter feature as 'axillary lobes' and gave additional defining characters for the genus (used in combination with those above) as 11-14 simple pectoral-fin rays, 5-8 simple pelvic-fin rays, 47-72 lateral line scales and anal fin with a strong spine.

Sinogastromyzon is distinguished from other balitorid genera by a combination of characters as follows: head and anterior portion of body relatively short, depressed and ventrally flattened; paired fins horizontal and laterally expanded, with 2 or more simple rays; pelvic fins fused posteriorly to form a sucking disk; eyes superolateral; mouth inferior and transverse; 4 rostral and 4 maxillary barbels aligned in rows; gill opening relatively large and extending to pectoral-fin.

The genus currently appears restricted to southern mainland China, Taiwan, Laos, and northern Vietnam.

Sinogastromyzon spp. have specialised morphology adapted to life in fast-flowing water. The paired fins are orientated horizontally, head and body flattened, and pelvic fins fused together.

These features form a powerful sucking cup which allows the fish to cling tightly to solid surfaces. The ability to swim in open water is greatly reduced and they instead 'crawl' their way over and under rocks.

The family Balitoridae as recognised by Kottelat (2012) is widely-distributed across much of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China.

Kottelat (2012) also considers the family Gastromyzontidae valid and many former balitorids are now contained within that group, but Sinogastromyzon is retained in Balitoridae.

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References

10 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