Family: Balitoridae
Metahomaloptera longicauda — a Balitoridae from southern Chinese mountain streams, peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes. Reaches 4.5–6.6 cm; loosely social; crowding causes endless pushing. 18–26 °C.
Metahomaloptera longicauda, a member of the family Balitoridae, comes from southern Chinese mountain streams, where it inhabits fast-flowing mountain streams, clinging to rocks. Peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes and algae and biofilm specialist; supplement with wafers, it grows to 4.5–6.6 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 18–26 °C range. Other Metahomaloptera species in our database include Metahomaloptera omeiensis.
A moderate-level species: peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes; stable water matters more than fancy equipment.
Set the heater to 18–26 °C and avoid swings. pH 6.5–7.5, GH 5–15 dGH suit it.
Full size is 4.5–6.6 cm. Minimum tank: 52 L, with open swimming space along its bottom-dwelling on rock surfaces habits.
Algae and biofilm specialist; supplement with wafers. Vary the menu — quality flakes or pellets plus frozen or live foods.
Peaceful grazer; squabbles are brief pushes. Recommended tankmates: Hillstream loaches of similar size — Graze side by side on open stone. Avoid Warm-water community fish — Need different temperatures.
Comes from southern Chinese mountain streams: fast-flowing mountain streams, clinging to rocks. Expect very strong, highly oxygenated current and requires very high dissolved oxygen.
Breeding rarely reported in aquaria; presumed egg-scatterer. Difficult to distinguish.