Loaches Online Forum

Side view of sub-adult of G. sp. "SK02"

Front view, the protusion of the secondary snout still not full,

The adult, resting and enjoying the strong current after meal.

Small Gastromyzon sp. cf. psiloetron (SK04)

A very small juvenile of SK04,

Oh wow Hendra! You keep on amazing us!
Wonderful timing....I was just thinking I should put together a profile for these species.

So here you go: (Could you comment on anything additional you think should be added, such as aquarium behaviour, food preferences, whatever)


Scientific Name: Gastromyzon unknown02
AKA Gastromyzon species SK02

Common name: Hillstream loach

Synonyms: None

Distribution: South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Sexual Dimorphism: Females probably plumper all over than males.

Maximum size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Similar to: Other Gastromyzon species.

Care: Inhabit fast flowing streams over sand, gravel and rocks. Aquarium must duplicate these conditions as fish have very high oxygen requirements.

See: Hillstream Loaches: Specialists at Life in the Fast Lane for more detailed explanation.

With all Gastromyzon species, care is broadly the same. All need excellent water-flow and aeration, numerous rocky hiding places and smooth pebbles and boulders to graze over. Lighting should be bright to encourage algal growth in the aquarium. Plants are not necessary as the fish do not normally encounter them in the wild, but they will help with water-quality. Suitable plants for high-flow environments are Anubias and Microsoreum. These will grow on rockwork or driftwood.

Feeding: Good quality flake, sinking pellets, algae wafers, thawed frozen Bloodworm, Mysis Shrimp, blanched Spinach, Kale, natural algae an advantage.

Water parameters: pH:7.0-8.0 Hardness: Medium Max dh: 12

Temperature: 75.2ºF to 82ºF(24-27.7°C)

Breeding: Not bred in aquaria.

Notes: This fish was collected by Hendra Budianto in the wild and designated SK02 for reference purposes. It is notable in mature specimens for having a pronounced secondary rostrum (nose area) that overhangs the lower and is noticeably longer at the outside edges, giving a concave appearance when viewed from above.
The habitat was a hillstream about 8-12 M wide, up to about 80 cm deep.
The water was very clear and the current strong.
Temp. 26 C, pH 7.8, TDS 054 ppm.
Substrate of sand mixed with gravel and rocks.



Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02. Note either side of secondary rostrum, not yet fully formed.
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02
Credit: Hendra Budianto



Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02. Note deeply concave plan view of secondary rostrum
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02. Note deeply concave plan view of secondary rostrum
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02. Natural habitat
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02. Note visible strong current
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown02, still clinging to a rock as it is lifted
Credit: Hendra Budianto

Same again for SK04 Hendra. I've changed some of your words to be more easily understood by English speaker/readers. Please make sure I have not misinterpreted your meanings. Anything that needs changing, or something to add, just let me know.

Scientific Name: Gastromyzon unknown04
AKA Gastromyzon species SK04

Common name: Hillstream loach

Synonyms: May possibly be a local variety of Gastromyzon psiloetron, known from East Kalimantan

Distribution: South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Sexual Dimorphism: Females probably plumper all over than males.

Maximum size: 2 inches + (5 cm +)

Similar to: Other Gastromyzon species.

Care: Inhabit fast flowing streams over sand, gravel and rocks. Aquarium must duplicate these conditions as fish have very high oxygen requirements.

See: Hillstream Loaches: Specialists at Life in the Fast Lane for more detailed explanation.

With all Gastromyzon species, care is broadly the same. All need excellent water-flow and aeration, numerous rocky hiding places and smooth pebbles and boulders to graze over. Lighting should be bright to encourage algal growth in the aquarium. Plants are not necessary as the fish do not normally encounter them in the wild, but they will help with water-quality. Suitable plants for high-flow environments are Anubias and Microsoreum. These will grow on rockwork or driftwood.

Feeding: Good quality flake, sinking pellets, algae wafers, thawed frozen Bloodworm, Mysis Shrimp, blanched Spinach, Kale, natural algae an advantage.

Water parameters: pH:7.0-8.0 Hardness: Medium Max dh: 12

Temperature: 75.2ºF to 82ºF(24-27.7°C)

Breeding: Not bred in aquaria.

Notes: This fish was collected by Hendra Budianto in the wild and designated SK04 for reference purposes. It is tentatively termed Gastromyzon sp. cf. psiloetron (SK04).

The habitat was a hillstream about 8-12 M wide, up to about 80 cm deep.
The water was very clear and the current strong.
Temp. 26 C, pH 7.8, TDS 054 ppm.
Substrate of sand mixed with gravel and rocks.
This species can change its color in minute from pale light brown to deep black in large specimens, meanwhile the small specimens tend to be just light brown color. The adults have more intense yellowish color in the dorsal and caudal fin and light brown top and bottom ray of caudal fin.

Local people inform Hendra that the black suckers can grow quite big and larger than “SK02”, the people also wonder if the black suckers are female, while “SK02” are the males, they think like that because the black (big and mature specimens of “SK04”) always appear to be carrying eggs.

The local name for the fish is “Katetipal” (sometimes they also call “tetipal”), which means (more or less) sticky.



Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04. Small juvenile.
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown04, natural habitat. Note visibly fast current
Credit: Hendra Budianto

Fantastic!!!

And SK01 Hendra. All your older photos were hosted at loachtank.com. I'm getting blanks from that site....says it is now defunct? If you've other nice pictures on file, they would be cool
I have less info in this profile because I was not sure of things like your collection site and suchlike. Any information that you think is useful would be fantastic. Ignore the "unknown05" designation. That's temporary. I already created and unknown01 file, but I'll ask Shari to redesignate it "05" and we'll make SK01 into "unknown01" to avoid confusion.
So next time you're out with the net and find something out of the ordinary, you can call it SK06

Scientific Name: Gastromyzon unknown05
AKA Gastromyzon species SK01

Common name: Hillstream loach

Synonyms: None

Distribution: South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Sexual Dimorphism: Females probably plumper all over than males.

Maximum size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Similar to: Other Gastromyzon species.

Care: Inhabit fast flowing streams over sand, gravel and rocks. Aquarium must duplicate these conditions as fish have very high oxygen requirements.

See: Hillstream Loaches: Specialists at Life in the Fast Lane for more detailed explanation.

With all Gastromyzon species, care is broadly the same. All need excellent water-flow and aeration, numerous rocky hiding places and smooth pebbles and boulders to graze over. Lighting should be bright to encourage algal growth in the aquarium. Plants are not necessary as the fish do not normally encounter them in the wild, but they will help with water-quality. Suitable plants for high-flow environments are Anubias and Microsoreum. These will grow on rockwork or driftwood.

Feeding: Good quality flake, sinking pellets, algae wafers, thawed frozen Bloodworm, Mysis Shrimp, blanched Spinach, Kale, natural algae an advantage.

Water parameters: pH:7.0-8.0 Hardness: Medium Max dh: 12

Temperature: 75.2ºF to 82ºF(24-27.7°C)

Breeding: Not bred in aquaria.

Notes: This fish was collected by Hendra Budianto in the wild and designated SK01 for reference purposes.



Caption: Gastromyzon unknown05 (SK01)
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown05 (SK01)
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown05 (SK01), Head detail
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown05 (SK01). Nose shows trauma after a territorial battle
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown05 (SK01). traumatized nose detail
Credit: Hendra Budianto


Caption: Gastromyzon unknown05 (SK01).
Credit: Hendra Budianto

Stunning photos of stunning fish!!! Thank you once again, Hendra.

Emma

Martin Thoene wrote:And SK01 Hendra. All your older photos were hosted at loachtank.com. I'm getting blanks from that site....says it is now defunct?

Hi Martin,
Try just changing the URL to read:
loachtank.org
in place of:
loachtank.com

Doing this sorted out all the images i posted before the domains were changed.

LES..

Thanks for the tip LES, I'll give that a try.

Martin.

Amazing!!!!