Chen Hillstream Loach
Pseudogastromyzon cheni
Parameter dashboard
20-25 °C
6.5-7.5
5 cm
4 years
Care guide
The Chen hillstream loach reaches about 5 cm total length and is a cool-water specialist from the fast-flowing streams of southern China. Its recorded habitat range is 20–25°C and pH 6.5–7.5. The aquarium needs strong current and high oxygenation — multiple powerheads or an oversized filter creating flow across broad, smooth stones. Use a long, broad, mature aquarium with biofilm on its surfaces. Sand or fine gravel substrate prevents injury to the belly. They are peaceful bottom-dwellers that get along with other temperate species such as white cloud mountain minnows but compatibility with dwarf shrimp should not be guaranteed. Offer sinking algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and occasional frozen bloodworm or daphnia. Hillstream loaches are sensitive to organic waste so regular water changes are critical.
Length is measured as total length.
Sources
- fishbase.se — https://fishbase.se/summary/Pseudogastromyzon-cheni
- seriouslyfish.com — https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/pseudogastromyzon-myersi
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (7)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond tetra Moenkhausia pittieri Caution | Caution | the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range Open pair in Compare → |
| Green swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Jack Dempsey Rocio octofasciata Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · one is boisterous and the other a much smaller peaceful fish sharing the same floor, where it can be intimidated and outcompeted at feeding time Open pair in Compare → |
| Malabar pufferfish Carinotetraodon travancoricus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates Open pair in Compare → |
| Sterba's cory Corydoras sterbai Caution | Caution | the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range Open pair in Compare → |
| Electric blue ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi Avoid | Avoid | Species with non-overlapping temperature ranges cannot coexist · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range Open pair in Compare → |
| Temporaris Shell Dweller Telmatochromis temporalis Avoid | Avoid | Species with non-overlapping temperature ranges cannot coexist · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range Open pair in Compare → |
5 species with compatible assessment in this sampleCollapse to hide the list; use “Open pair in Compare” for the full matrix.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bleeding-heart tetra Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Chameleon fish Badis badis Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Hillstream loach Gastromyzon punctulatus Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Panda Loach Yaoshania pachychilus Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
| Twosaddle corydoras Hoplisoma weitzmani Compatible | Compatible | No rule-based conflicts detected for this pair. Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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