Family: Balitoridae
Vanmanenia intermedia — a Balitoridae from southern Chinese mountain streams, calm but assertive around its chosen perch. Reaches 7.4–10.8 cm; singly or in a loose group on open rockwork. 18–26 °C.
Vanmanenia intermedia, a member of the family Balitoridae, comes from southern Chinese mountain streams, 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 7.4–10.8 cm and adapts well to a properly set-up aquarium in the 18–26 °C range. Other Vanmanenia species in our database include Vanmanenia pingchowensis, Vanmanenia stenosoma, Vanmanenia gymnetrus.
A moderate-level species: calm but assertive around its chosen perch; stable water matters more than fancy equipment.
Hold 18–26 °C and keep it stable — 18–26 °C typical for the genus. Cool, highly oxygenated water.
Adults reach 7.4–10.8 cm; it is bottom-dwelling on rock surfaces. Plan for at least 140 litres.
Grazes rock surfaces; feed spirulina-rich foods. Feed two small meals a day rather than one large one.
Calm but assertive around its chosen perch; singly or in a loose group on open rockwork. Good company: Hillstream loaches of similar size — Graze side by side on open stone. Keep away from 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.
In the aquarium: spawning unknown in home aquaria. Difficult to distinguish.