Purple Fin Sucker - Pseudogastromyzon laticeps

Purple Fin Sucker (Pseudogastromyzon laticeps)

The Purple Fin Sucker, Pseudogastromyzon laticeps, is a small hillstream loach with a flattened body, broad head, sucker-like underside and attractive spotted patterning with purple-toned fins. Also known as the Purple Fin Hillstream Loach, this specialised river fish is adapted for life on smooth rocks in cool, fast-flowing, oxygen-rich water. It is peaceful, fascinating and very active when settled, but it should only be kept in a mature aquarium designed for hillstream species rather than a warm, slow-flowing tropical community tank.

Common Name:
Purple Fin Sucker, Purple Fin Hillstream Loach, Purple Fin Sucker Loach, Purple-fin Hillstream Loach.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Pseudogastromyzon laticeps

Maximum Size:
Up to around 6–7 cm.

Water Type:
Freshwater

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Endemic to Guangdong Province, China, where it is recorded from the Longjin He drainage. Like other hillstream loaches, it is associated with subtropical flowing water, smooth stones, rocky streambeds, high oxygen levels and natural biofilm growth.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 18–24°C
pH Range: 6.0–7.5
Hardness or Salinity: Soft to moderately hard freshwater; clean, oxygen-rich water with low waste levels is essential.

Temperament:
Peaceful, but active and somewhat territorial over favourite grazing stones. It is best kept with other cool-water, fast-flowing stream species rather than slow, delicate or warm-water fish. Can be kept singly, but is often more interesting in a small group if the aquarium has enough rockwork and grazing areas.

Diet:
Biofilm and aufwuchs grazer with omnivorous elements. Provide mature algae growth, algae wafers, spirulina tablets, sinking grazer foods, Repashy-style gel foods, blanched spinach, courgette and small frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops or brineshrimp. It should not be expected to survive on aquarium algae alone, especially in very clean or new tanks.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 90 litres is recommended for a small group, with a longer aquarium footprint preferred. More space is needed if keeping several hillstream loaches or other bottom-level stream fish.

Behaviour & Activity:
A bottom-dwelling rock grazer that clings to stones, glass and decor using its flattened body and modified fins. It spends much of its time grazing surfaces, moving between flow zones and resting in high-oxygen areas. In settled groups, individuals may display, chase briefly or defend preferred stones without serious aggression if space is adequate.

Aquarium Category:
Community Fish
Best suited to specialist cool-water stream communities with peaceful fish such as White Cloud Mountain Minnows, smaller danios, other suitable hillstream loaches, small gobies and peaceful bottom dwellers that enjoy similar flow and temperature. Avoid warm tropical community fish, aggressive cichlids, large predators, fin-nippers and slow fish that dislike strong current.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
This species needs a mature hillstream-style aquarium with strong water movement, high oxygenation, excellent filtration and regular water changes. Provide smooth river stones, rounded pebbles, sand or fine gravel, driftwood, bright enough lighting to encourage natural biofilm and multiple grazing surfaces. Avoid brand-new tanks, low-flow setups, poor oxygenation and sustained high temperatures. Stable cool water is usually more suitable than standard warm tropical conditions.

Suitable for:
Intermediate to experienced fishkeepers

Availability:
Rare or occasional in trade / Specialist import

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.