Taiwanese Hillstream Loach

About

Found only in Taiwan, this obscure hillstream loach relative, Hemimyzon formosanus, is one of just three members of its genus endemic to the island and the most widely distributed of those. It belongs to the family Balitoridae and can be told apart from its closest lookalike genus, Jinshaia, by its slightly forked or emarginate tail fin rather than a deeply forked one. Unlike many related genera, the pelvic fins do not fuse into a true sucking disc, though they may be joined at the rear base. It rarely shows up in the hobby and usually arrives mixed in with wild-caught shipments from its native waters, so finding it takes some patience. Despite being tagged as aggressive and territorial, in practice it behaves more like a mildly scrappy loach around its own kind, and it genuinely seems to do better when kept with others of its species. A group of at least four is a sensible starting point. Tankmate selection deserves some thought since its environmental needs are fairly specific, but species like Rhinogobius and Stiphodon gobies, various Devario and Garra, and hillstream catfishes from genera such as Glyptothorax make reasonable companions. Breeding has not been documented in captivity. Given its relative hardiness and straightforward diet, it is considered accessible to less experienced keepers willing to put in the research.