Family: Balitoridae
Gastromyzon farragus — a Balitoridae from Borneo, calm but assertive around its chosen perch. Reaches 2.9–4.3 cm; singly or in a loose group on open rockwork. 19–23 °C.
Gastromyzon farragus, a member of the family Balitoridae, comes from Borneo, where it inhabits fast-flowing mountain streams, clinging to rocks. Calm but assertive around its chosen perch and grazes rock surfaces; feed spirulina-rich foods, it grows to 2.9–4.3 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 19–23 °C range. Other Gastromyzon species in our database include Gastromyzon ctenocephalus, Gastromyzon punctulatus, Gastromyzon scitulus.
A moderate-level species: calm but assertive around its chosen perch; stable water matters more than fancy equipment.
Set the heater to 19–23 °C and avoid swings. pH 6.5–7.5, GH 5–15 dGH suit it.
Expect 2.9–4.3 cm as an adult, living bottom-dwelling. A 25 L tank or larger gives it room.
Grazes rock surfaces; feed spirulina-rich foods. It forages naturally over bare rock and coarse gravel, so let some food reach the bottom.
Calm but assertive around its chosen perch. Recommended tankmates: Other cool-water stream fish — Share the need for oxygen and flow. Avoid Large aggressive cichlids — Disrupt the calm grazing regime.
Native to Borneo, where it lives in fast-flowing mountain streams, clinging to rocks. Very strong, highly oxygenated current; Requires very high dissolved oxygen.
Spawning unknown in home aquaria. Difficult to distinguish.