Spotted hillstream loach
Gastromyzon punctulatus
- Tank length
- 19.2 cm7.6 in
- Start with
- 3
- Temperature
- 23–25 °C73–77 °F
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 4.8 cm1.9 in
- Lifespan
- 6–10 yrs
Grazes biofilm in cool, fast-flowing water; set up river-style flow and rock surfaces before adding.Grazes biofilm in cool, fast-flowing water; set up river-style flow and rock surfaces before adding.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Parkinson's rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African knifefish
African knifefish may eat Spotted hillstream loachAfrican knifefish may eat Spotted hillstream loach
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–25 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Sabah and Sarawak, Borneo | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | herbivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 6–10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 10 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |