Hillstream loach
Gastromyzon ctenocephalus
- Adult size
- 5 cm2 in
- Start with
- 3
- Tank length
- 20 cm8 in
- Lifespan
- 6–10 yrs
- Temperature
- 20–24 °C68–75 °F
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Diet
- herbivore
Needs cool, fast, highly oxygenated water over smooth rocks with biofilm to graze; avoid warm tanks.Needs cool, fast, highly oxygenated water over smooth rocks with biofilm to graze; avoid warm tanks.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Black kuhli loach
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Boeseman rainbowfishNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Brilliant rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Julii cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Lambchop rasboraNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Parkinson's rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Afra cichlid
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Hillstream loachAfrican knifefish may eat Hillstream loach
- African pike
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Hillstream loachAlligator gar may eat Hillstream loach
Sources
| temperature | 20–24 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 7–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Sarawak and Sabah, Borneo | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | Needs cool, fast, highly oxygenated water over smooth rocks with biofilm to graz | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #5A4A3A, #C9B48A | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| social min | 3 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | herbivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 6–10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.012,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | pleco | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |