Gecko Loach

About

Found in the rivers of Borneo's Kapuas and Mahakam drainages, Homalopteroides stephensoni is a small hillstream loach that most hobbyists have never encountered. It appears rarely if ever in the ornamental trade, and information on it remains sparse. Like its relatives in the family Balitoridae, its body is built for life in current: flattened from top to bottom, with horizontally spread paired fins that work together as a powerful suction cup, letting the fish grip rocks and woody debris with impressive tenacity. Rather than swimming freely, it crawls and hops across surfaces in a way that has earned members of this genus the nickname 'gecko loach' or 'lizard loach'. The pattern of rounded dark blotches along the back and flanks, up to six on the dorsal surface and as many as eight along the lateral line, growing larger toward the tail, helps identify it among related species. In the wild it forms loose aggregations, and a group of six or more will behave far more naturally and boldly in the aquarium than a lone individual or a small trio. It is not aggressive, though tankmate selection takes some thought. Species from similar fast-water habitats in Borneo are generally the safest choices. No captive breeding has been documented.