E. sinensis was initially included in the genus Protomyzon where it remained until 2004 when Kottelat found sufficient geographical and morphological differences between members of the group inhabiting the island of Borneo and those from mainland East/South East Asia to warrant their separation.

The genus Erromyzon was erected to accommodate the mainland fishes and there are currently three…

Endemic to a handful of natural springs in the Río Verde valley, San Luis Potosí state, Central Mexico. The valley is believed to have once been filled by a large lake and the relict springs are part of the elevated Río (river) Verde basin which later drains into the much larger Río Pánuco system. Much of the aquatic fauna found in the valley is endemic to the area but in many cases threatened by introduced species.

Not a commonly species in the aquarium hobby but sporadically available in shipments of wild fishes from Thailand.

Following Kottelat (1990) it’s a member of a group of species possessing a complete or near-complete lateral line, 8 ½ branched dorsal-fin rays, 17 branched caudal-fin rays and lacking sexual dimorphism (the latter is not strictly true – see above).

Its colour pattern is quite distinctive, howe…

This species is traded on a fairly regular basis and is similar in appearance to some congeners, most notably S. bella, S. mahnerti, S. multifasciata, S. poculi, S. reticulata, S. longa, S. conirostris and S. udomritthiruji.

This assemblage has been referred to as the Schistura multifasciata ‘group’, and members share a…

The type locality originally consisted of a shallow (0.5 – 1.5 m deep) stream with a substrate of rocks and boulders and flow varying from ‘moderate to swift’.

When the holotype was collected there in 1980 sympatric species included Acanthocobitis zonalternans, Puntius orphoides, Pethia ticto, Raiamas guttatus, Barilius barnoides, Mystacoleucus argenteus and Mastacembelus armatus plus unidentified members of Crossocheilus an…

This species is very rare in the aquarium trade but available on occasion. It has 8-9 darkish body bars which usually split vertically as the fish mature, and like some conspecifics possesses a prominent dorsal adipose crest on the caudal peduncle.

Schistura is the most species-rich genus among…

This undescribed species has probably not been seen in the aquarium trade yet but is occasionally maintained private collectors. The ‘SK’ numbering system used here refers to ‘South Kalimantan’, home to several unidentified members of the genus.

Gastromyzon spp. are placed into various ‘species groups’ (artificial assemblages of species which may or may not be monophyletic) for ease of reference, and based on colour and patterning G. sp. ‘SK01’ appears similar to members of the G. ridens group which also includes G. crenastus, G. stellatus and G. zebrinus.

For long-term success it’s best to provide a mature aquarium with a plentiful supply of algae-covered rocks and other surfaces. If unable to grow sufficient algae in the main tank or you have a community containing numerous herbivorous fishes which consume what’s available quickly it may be necessary to maintain a separate tank in which to grow algae on rocks and switch them with those in the main tank on a cyclical basis.

Gastromyzon spp. are obligate dwellers of swift, shallow streams containing clear, oxygen-saturated water and have been recorded from sea level to 1350 m amsl throughout hill regions of Borneo.

They typically inhabit riffles and runs and are often found above or below cascades and waterfalls.

Substrates are generally composed of gravel, rocks, boulders or bedrock carpeted with a rich biofilm formed by algae and other micro-organisms.

Known only from headwaters of the Sungai (river) Amandit, a tributary of the larger Barito basin in the Meratus mountain range, Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan) province, Indonesian Borneo.

There currently exist 36 officially-described members of the genus, all of which are endemic to the island with over half restricted to a single river basin or sub-basin.