Stream fish species

Bloody Mary Borneo Sucker

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวบลัดดี้แมรี่

Gastromyzon sp. Bloody Mary

Trade name for an undescribed Gastromyzon

Trade name for an undescribed Gastromyzon of the G. fasciatus group from Central Kalimantan. As an aquarium precaution keep it no warmer than 24 °C, in strong, well-oxygenated flow over biofilm-covered rock. It can be kept in a group - individuals chase each other a little but do no harm.

Blue Zebra Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวม้าลายหางฟ้า

Gastromyzon sp. Blue Zebra

Trade name - fish sold under it may be different species

Trade name, not a species. Sellers usually link it to the undescribed Gastromyzon sp. SK03 from South Kalimantan, and fish sold under this name may be different species. Keep it as for G. zebrinus in cool, fast, oxygen-rich water over rocks with a mature biofilm.

Borneo Sucker

ปลาผีเสื้อติดหินบอร์เนียว

Gastromyzon ctenocephalus

Often sold unsorted as "Borneo sucker" so a single bag may hold several species. Keep in groups of five or more.

Burmese Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อลำธารพม่า

Balitora burmanica

From the Salween basin on the Thai-Myanmar border. Among the most demanding for cool, fast water - not suitable without a fan or chiller in the hot season.

Chen's Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อติดหินจีนเล็ก

Pseudogastromyzon cheni

Small (about 5 cm) and wants the cooler end of the range. Males hold territories on individual stones - provide several flat rocks to spread them out.

Chinese Butterfly Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อติดหินจีน

Beaufortia kweichowensis

One of the most cold-tolerant hillstream fish (down to 18 °C), but it still needs to stay under 24 °C in the hot season. A sunken belly means starvation, not disease - it is the usual cause of loss.

Hillstream Loach 'SEW01'

ปลาผีเสื้อติดหิน SEW01

Sewellia sp. 'SEW01'

Trade code for an undescribed Sewellia

Trade code for an undescribed Sewellia. Care is identical to S. lineolata.

Humilis Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวฮิวมิลิส

Hypergastromyzon humilis

A tiny (about 4 cm) sucker from forest streams of the Kapuas basin in Borneo - add it only to a mature tank with algae- and biofilm-covered rock and strong oxygenated flow, and keep a tight lid as it can climb the glass.

Katibas Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวคาติบาส

Gastromyzon katibasensis

From rocky, fast-flowing headwaters of the Katibas River in Sarawak's Lanjak-Entimau sanctuary - needs strong, well-oxygenated flow over rocks with established biofilm to graze.

Lizard Loach

ปลาจิ้งจกน้ำ

Homaloptera orthogoniata

Elongate, lizard-like, clings to rock and wood. Not an algae grazer - needs meaty foods (bloodworm, brine shrimp, sinking pellets). Genus is under active revision; several species have moved to Balitoropsis.

Myers' Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อติดหินไมเออร์

Pseudogastromyzon myersi

Very close to P. cheni and hard to tell apart when young; tolerates a slightly wider temperature range.

Panda Loach

ปลาค้อแพนด้า

Yaoshania pachychilus

From fast mountain streams on Dayaoshan, Guangxi, China. Needs cool water no warmer than 24 °C with very strong flow (15–20x turnover per hour) and should only go into a mature tank with biofilm-covered rocks. The black-and-white panda pattern is juvenile only - adults turn mottled brown.

Ridens Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวไรเดน

Gastromyzon cf. ridens

cf. identification - close to G. ridens, not confirmed

A G. ridens-group sucker from fast streams in Sarawak and western Borneo. It needs a mature tank with algae- and biofilm-covered rock, turnover of 10–15 times the tank volume per hour, and a tight lid, since it can climb the glass.

Sadong Borneo Sucker

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวซิทูลัส

Gastromyzon scitulus

Vulnerable (IUCN) endemic of the Sadong basin in Sarawak - needs very clean, oxygen-rich water turned over 10–15 times an hour and a tight-fitting lid, as it can climb the glass and escape.

Sewellia Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อเวียดนาม

Sewellia breviventralis

A rapids specialist from the Pako River in Vietnam, found only where current exceeds 1 m/s - needs very strong, highly oxygenated flow over rock, and because wild fish feed mainly on small invertebrates, supplement biofilm with sinking and frozen foods such as bloodworm.

Smith's Hillstream Loach

ปลาจิ้งจกน้ำสมิธ

Homaloptera smithi

Found in streams of southern and western Thailand. Wants coarse gravel and strong current. The Thai name here follows the scientific name, as there is no established common name.

Spotted Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อติดหินจุด

Gastromyzon punctulatus

From clear cool Bornean streams; prefers slightly softer water than Sewellia. Shy - needs flat stones to cling to and crevices to retreat into.

Sunset Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวซันเซ็ต

Gastromyzon venustus

Fish sold as Sunset may be another red-finned Gastromyzon

Known only from Sungai Belalong in Brunei, an obligate bottom-dweller of torrential water that cannot swim mid-water - it needs strong, oxygen-rich flow over rocks that already carry biofilm.

Tiger Hillstream Loach

ปลาผีเสื้อติดหินลายเสือ

Sewellia lineolata

The classic hillstream species. Needs strong laminar flow over smooth rock and high dissolved oxygen. Grazes biofilm but tank algae is never enough - supplement with sinking food and blanched vegetables. Will breed in a cool, fast tank.

Yellow-finned Borneo Sucker

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวครีบเหลือง

Gastromyzon viriosus

Tatau-basin endemic from Sarawak that grazes biofilm in clear, oxygen-saturated riffles - add it only to a mature tank whose stones already carry algae, never to a newly set-up one.

Zebra Borneo Sucker

ปลาผีเสื้อบอร์เนียวม้าลาย

Gastromyzon zebrinus

From the upper Sambas basin in West Kalimantan. Needs cool (max 24 °C), fast, oxygen-saturated water over rocks with a mature biofilm, and too much protein in the diet can cause internal problems.

Arrow Loach

ปลาค้อทราย

Nemacheilus masyae

Widespread in Thai sandy rivers and streams; swims more in open water than other loaches and is peaceful in groups.

Banded Mountain Loach

ปลาค้อลายบั้ง

Schistura desmotes

Central and western Thai streams. Sifts sand for food, so use rounded sand rather than sharp gravel.

Dwarf Chain Loach

ปลาหมูอารีย์

Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki

Thai endemic, named after Aree Sidthimunk. Once nearly wiped out by collection; today almost all stock is captive-bred - buy captive-bred only. Needs a group of six or more.

Horseface Loach

ปลารากกล้วย

Acantopsis dialuzona

Buries itself in sand leaving only the eyes showing - needs at least 5 cm of fine sand; gravel abrades and infects it. Only eats what reaches the bottom.

Koh Chang Stone Loach

ปลาค้อเกาะช้าง

Schistura kohchangensis

Thai native from lowland streams around Koh Chang and the eastern seaboard; tolerates warmer water than upland species - a good first stream loach without a chiller.

Mahnert's Stone Loach

ปลาค้อมาห์เนอร์ท

Schistura mahnerti

From streams of western Thailand. Banded, and territorial like other Schistura. There is no established Thai common name.

Skunk Loach

ปลาหมูลาย

Yasuhikotakia morleti

Mekong and Chao Phraya basins. Much nippier than the dwarf chain loach and will harass slow, long-finned tank mates. Thai trade name covers several species.

Sumo Loach

ปลาค้อลายเสือ (ค้อซูโม่)

Schistura balteata

The most popular stream loach in the hobby. Strongly territorial: keep one, or a larger group with many caves - never a pair. A determined jumper, so keep the tank covered.

Annie's Goby

ปลาบู่แคระแอนนี่

Stiphodon annieae

Tiny (about 2–3 cm) goby from clear, high-gradient rocky streams - needs very clean, fast, oxygen-rich water over biofilm-covered stones in a mature tank.

Blue Neon Goby

ปลาบู่หินสีคราม

Stiphodon atropurpureus

Small stream goby, males vivid blue. Grazes rock algae almost exclusively - the tank must already carry a mature algae film or it starves within a month. Almost all stock is wild-caught, so buy only when genuinely prepared for it.

Caledonian Red-Nose Goby

ปลาบู่จมูกแดงคาเลโดเนีย

Lentipes kaaea

Unlike most stream gobies it has been seen swimming in strong current rather than clinging to rock, so give it an open, fast run over slab stones and coarse gravel, and feed mainly small frozen or live foods.

Cobalt Blue Goby

ปลาบู่แคระโคบอลต์/นีออน

Stiphodon semoni

Biofilm grazer from fast, clear streams. Add only to a mature tank whose rocks already carry algae, keep flow strong and oxygen high, and add surface agitation as the water nears 28 °C.

Golden-red Stiphodon

ปลาบู่แคระรูติ

Stiphodon rutilaureus

Small grazer from clear, fast, rocky streams - it lives on biofilm, so it needs a mature tank with algae-covered stones and strong, oxygen-rich flow. A new tank cannot feed it.

Lagocephalus Goby

บู่ลาโก้

Sicyopterus lagocephalus

Stream goby that rasps algae and biofilm off rocks in fast water - add it only to a mature tank with algae-covered stones and strong flow, supplement with fine sinking food, and do not expect breeding because the larvae must go to sea.

Midnight Goby

ปลาบู่แคระมิดไนท์

Lentipes dimetrodon

A tiny goby (about 2.5 cm) from boulder streams above waterfalls in western New Guinea - keep it in clear, fast water over rocks with established biofilm, add very small frozen foods, and avoid larger or greedy tank mates.

Multiradiatus Goby

ปลาบู่มัลติ

Lentipes multiradiatus

Lentipes feed on biofilm and small invertebrates rather than grazing algae like Stiphodon. Base the diet on small frozen or live foods such as bloodworm and Artemia, in clear, fast, oxygen-rich water, under a tight lid.

Pelewensis Goby

ปลาบู่แคระเพเลเวนซิส

Stiphodon pelewensis

A near-exclusive algae grazer: stock it only into a mature tank whose rocks already carry a thick algae and biofilm film, in strong, well-oxygenated flow, and offer sinking or meaty foods only occasionally since its long gut is built for plant matter.

Rainbow Goby

ปลาบู่แคระเรนโบว์

Stiphodon ornatus

West Sumatran hill-stream grazer with a long, plant-processing gut - needs plenty of algae-covered rock in a mature, fast-flowing tank. Offer meaty foods only occasionally.

Red Lipstick Goby

ปลาบู่ปากแดง

Sicyopus rubicundus

A micro-predator, not a grazer - it ignores algae and usually dried food, so feed small live or frozen foods (Artemia, bloodworm, Daphnia) in fast, oxygen-rich water, and expect it to eat shrimp and fry up to about 1 cm.

Red Papua Goby

ปลาบู่แดงปาปัว

Lentipes cf. multiradiatus

Trade identification - often sold as cf. multiradiatus

Trade name for a West Papuan Lentipes not yet firmly identified. Care as for L. multiradiatus - small frozen or live foods in fast, oxygen-rich water, with plenty of stones and crevices so males can hold separate territories.

Tiger Stream Goby

ปลาบู่ไทเกอร์

Schismatogobius ampluvinculus

Scaleless micro goby under 3 cm from subtropical gravel streams of eastern Taiwan. Aquarium guidance keeps it at or below 23 °C, which in a Thai room means active cooling. Give soft sand or fine rounded gravel to bury in, and feed small live or frozen foods, since dry food is usually accepted only later.

Doctor Fish

การ่ารูฟ่า

Garra rufa

Middle Eastern river fish that tolerates a very wide temperature range in the wild (some populations live in hot springs), but in a tank does best in fairly cool, fast, well-oxygenated water. Add it only to a mature tank with established biofilm, and keep a tight lid because it can climb glass.

Panda Garra

การ่าแพนด้า

Garra flavatra

From streams of the Rakhine Yoma in western Myanmar. It grazes algae but is not a true algae eater - feed meaty foods (bloodworm, brine shrimp) plus vegetable-based sinking food, and keep five or more in a tank at least 90 cm long, as a lone fish bullies similar-shaped tank mates.

Siamese Algae Eater

ปลาเล็บมือนาง

Crossocheilus oblongus

One of the few fish that actually eats black beard algae, though it eats less as it grows and when well fed on pellets. Reaches 14 cm. Look-alikes are common in shops - the black stripe must run all the way into the tail.

Stonelapping Minnow

ปลาเลียหิน

Garra cambodgiensis

Thai native from fast streams; rasps biofilm off rock all day and shares the same cool, high-flow needs as the hillstream loaches. Reaches 15 cm and becomes territorial when adult.

Blackline Rasbora

ปลาซิวหางแดง

Rasbora borapetensis

Named after Bueng Boraphet in Nakhon Sawan. About 4-5 cm; colours up best in a group of ten or more over a dark substrate.

Giant Danio

ปลาซิวใบไผ่ใหญ่

Devario aequipinnatus

Reaches about 10 cm and needs a tank at least 90 cm long. Hardy - a good first group for a newly cycled stream tank.

Glowlight Danio

โกลว์ไลท์ดานิโอ

Danio choprae

Tiny (about 3 cm) danio from Irrawaddy streams in northern Myanmar. Keep a group of ten or more with moderate current rather than a torrent, and fit a tight lid because it jumps through small gaps.

Lambchop Rasbora

ปลาซิวข้างขวานเล็ก

Trigonostigma espei

From still and slow lowland water in eastern Thailand and Cambodia; prefers soft acidic water and dislikes strong current - only suits calm corners of a stream tank.

Laos Danio

ปลาซิวใบไผ่ลาว

Devario laoensis

Mekong basin in Laos and north-eastern Thailand. Care as for other Devario.

Queen Danio

ปลาซิวใบไผ่ราชินี

Devario regina

Thai native from western and southern streams; happiest swimming against strong current, which makes it the ideal upper-level companion for a hillstream tank. Group of eight or more, and keep the tank covered.

Scissortail Rasbora

ปลาซิวหางกรรไกร

Rasbora trilineata

Widespread Thai native. Very adaptable, so a sensible choice when the tank cannot be held at true hillstream temperatures.

White Cloud Mountain Minnow

ปลาซิวเมฆขาว

Tanichthys albonubes

A gold morph is sold as Gold White Cloud - it is the same species

Not a Thai native but widely used in local stream tanks because it is a genuine coldwater fish. Do not keep above 24 °C for long - it shortens its life sharply.

Asian Striped Catfish

ปลาแขยงข้างลาย

Mystus mysticetus

Thai native, nocturnal - feed once in the evening before lights out. Has sharp pectoral spines; move it with a cup rather than a net. The Thai name covers several Mystus species.

Glass Catfish

ปลาก้างพระร่วง

Kryptopterus vitreolus

Thai native from southern and eastern streams. Must be kept in a group of at least six - alone it stops eating and wastes away. Hovers mid-water in gentle flow. Long mislabelled in the trade as K. bicirrhis, which is a different species.