Erromyzon spp. are obligate dwellers of shallow, fast-flowing, highly-oxygenated headwaters/minor tributaries characterised by stretches of riffles and runs broken up by pools or cascades in some cases. Substrates are normally composed of smaller rocks, sand and gravel with jumbles of boulders, and while riparian/stream-side vegetation and patches of submerged leaf litter are common features aquatic plants aren’t usually present.

This fish has only been traded on a handful of occasions to date. It's been referred to as Lepidocephalichthys cf. hasselti and Lepidocephalus cf. thermalis but appears to be an undescribed member of the former genus. Following a…

Tan (2009) redescribed H. stephensoni and it possesses the following unique character set: sub-inferior mouth with thin barbels; five principle, 12-13 secondary pectoral fin rays (usually 12); scaleless belly; pattern of keeled scales on anterior, dorsal portion of body consisting of a single central keel in the posterior third of each scale; 43-50 lateral line…

This is one of the most frequently-traded members of the group and is an excellent choice for those new to keeping loaches. It’s distinguishable from congeners by a combination of characters including: rounded/truncate caudal-fin; a scaleless patch on top of the head; relatively large adult size; flanks with spotted patterning in females and a solid…

This species is not traded often but may be available occasionally bycatch among shipments of other species. It can be told apart from congeners most easily by the following combination of characters: truncate caudal-fin; scaleless patch on top of head; caudal-fin with reticulated patterning, sometimes appearing as a series of thin vertical bars; body reddish brown with darker markings; 3-7 predorsal and 3-6 postdorsal thin, transverse dark bars running across the dorsal surface; relatively deep…

This species is not traded often but is occasionally available as bycatch among shipments of other species. It can be told apart from congeners most easily by the prominent, dorsally-orientated, roughly semi-circular lamina circularis in males, a feature unique within the genus. Other distinguishing characters include a combination of: forked caudal-fin; relatively small adult size; dark <-shaped mark at the base of the caudal-fin; a black spot at the base of branched caudal-fin rays 3-5.

Sand-dwelling loaches from the families Botiidae, Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae are also suitable but proper research is essential as some can be excessively territorial or otherwise aggressive.

A community based around fishes from its natural waters could include species such as Badis badis,…

This is one of the most frequently-traded members of the genus and is an excellent choice for those new to keeping loaches.

It’s distinguishable from congeners by a combination of characters including: relatively large adult size (to at least 80 mm SL); rounded/truncate caud…

Acanthopsoides spp. are most closely related to the horse-faced loaches of the genus Acantopsis with which they often co-occur in nature, and thus commonly referred to as 'dwarf horse-face loaches'. The genus currently comprises five species of which four were described by Siebert (1991); these were discovered in existing museum holdings…

An obligate dweller of swiftly-flowing streams and headwaters containing clear, oxygen-saturated water. It often inhabits riffles and runs and is likely to show a preference for shallower zones. Substrates are generally composed of gravel, rocks, boulders or bedrock carpeted with a rich biofilm formed by algae and other micro-organisms.

Juveniles are often found in slower-moving stretches with gravel substrate and submerged tree roots. In both cases patches of aquatic plants are only occasionally pres…