{"product_id":"borneo-yellowfin-hillstream-loach-gastromyzon-viriosus-freshwater","title":"Borneo Yellowfin Hillstream Loach (Gastromyzon viriosus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E3F2FD;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store pickup only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Borneo Yellowfin Hillstream Loach (\u003cem\u003eGastromyzon viriosus\u003c\/em\u003e) is a little living river stone: a flattened, sucker-bodied oddball with a maze-patterned head and bold yellow and black banded fins. These are large, well-established specimens. Peaceful and endlessly watchable, hillstream loaches are an intermediate-level fish, not because they are delicate, but because they need a tank built around flow, oxygen, and grazing surfaces. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater livestock\u003c\/a\u003e for tank mates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCare Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTank setup:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 gallons or more, long footprint preferred. Smooth river stones, rounded gravel, and open rock surfaces to graze and perch on recreate their shallow Borneo streams.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlow and oxygen are everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e aim for strong current and heavy surface agitation. A spare powerhead or an oversized filter outlet pointed along the rocks makes them thrive.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e 68 to 77°F, pH 6.5 to 7.5. They appreciate the cooler end and pristine, well-oxygenated water. Avoid warm, still, low-oxygen tanks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature tanks only:\u003c\/strong\u003e their staple food is the biofilm and algae film that only develops in an established tank. Give the tank a few months of age, or seed rocks in a sunny window.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e aufwuchs grazers. Supplement the biofilm with gel food, algae wafers, and occasional frozen daphnia or baby brine shrimp placed on the rocks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGroup them:\u003c\/strong\u003e keep 3 or more. They squabble harmlessly over favorite stones, and the little turf displays are half the fun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:8px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBorneo Yellowfin Hillstream Loach, Borneo Sucker\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eGastromyzon viriosus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCurrent Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eLarge, around 2 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMax Adult Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAbout 2.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003ePeaceful, keep in groups of 3 or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e20 gallons, long footprint\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e68 to 77°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e6.5 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eBiofilm and algae grazer, takes gel foods and wafers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eFast shallow streams of Sarawak, Borneo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePickup\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #BBDEFB;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store pickup only, no shipping on live fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompletely peaceful toward everything, including shrimp. Ideal tank mates are other current-loving fish like the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/zebra-danio-danio-rerio-freshwater\"\u003eZebra Danio\u003c\/a\u003e and small rasboras, plus bottom dwellers that stay out of their lane such as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/black-kuhli-loach-pangio-oblonga-freshwater\"\u003eBlack Kuhli Loach\u003c\/a\u003e or a group of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/dwarf-chain-loach-ambastaia-sidthimunki-freshwater\"\u003eDwarf Chain Loaches\u003c\/a\u003e. Avoid large aggressive fish and avoid warm-water slow tanks like betta setups, since the temperature and flow needs do not line up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eRecommended Foods \u0026amp; Supplies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/repashy-soilent-green-algae-gel-food\"\u003eRepashy Soilent Green\u003c\/a\u003e, the ideal gel food for aufwuchs grazers, it clings to their rocks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-mini-algae-wafers\"\u003eHikari Mini Algae Wafers\u003c\/a\u003e sized for their small sucker mouths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/hikari-algae-wafers\"\u003eHikari Algae Wafers\u003c\/a\u003e for group feeding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1E88E5;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs a hillstream loach an algae eater?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePartly. They rasp soft algae film and biofilm off smooth surfaces, but they will not mow down hair algae or clean a neglected tank. Think of them as grazers that need algae, not janitors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I keep one in a betta or community tank?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnly if the tank runs cool with strong flow and high oxygen. A warm, still tank is the most common reason hillstream loaches fail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo they need a group?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey live fine alone, but a trio or more brings out natural behavior: stone-to-stone chases, fin flaring, and stacked perching. Their squabbles never cause damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is my hillstream loach on the glass?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTotally normal. Their fused fins work like a suction cup, and glass grows the same biofilm they graze on rocks. A tight lid still matters, they can climb above the waterline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49030598394075,"sku":"FW1-F9238","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/3fae989a-1138-463d-83c3-21c8edf7f9da.jpg?v=1785197035","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/borneo-yellowfin-hillstream-loach-gastromyzon-viriosus-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}