Skip to content
underwatergreen
Menu

Species profile

Deze Chinese Sucker

Sinogastromyzon dezeensis

Common names: Deze Chinese Sucker

Recognized speciesLoaches
Send Us A photo, be a contributor :)

Adult size

Up to 10 cm

Typical adult length 7–10 cm.

Up to 10 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from China

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • Keepers able to provide at least a 90 cm aquarium with the substrate, current, and cover this loach needs.
  • A mature high-flow aquarium with oxygen-rich water and established grazing surfaces.

Think carefully if

  • The aquarium is shorter than 90 cm or cannot support the recommended social group.
  • Water is warm, stagnant, or the aquarium lacks mature biofilm-covered stone.

Deze Chinese Sucker is a bottom-dwelling loach requiring a 90 cm or longer aquarium, suitable substrate, stable water, and species-appropriate social housing.

Appearance and Identification

A broad, flattened Chinese sucker loach with an olive-brown body, dark mottling, and expansive paired fins that grip rock.

Specialist rheophilic species with limited aquarium documentation.

Mature males may have a squarer head, stronger pectoral-fin rays, or breeding tubercles, while females are usually fuller through the abdomen. These differences are subtle and species identification should come first.

Tank Requirements

Suggested filter
About 400–500 litres an hour
Suggested heater
About 100–150 W for this tank
Minimum tank volume
100 litres
Minimum tank length
90 cm
Minimum group size
3
Recommended group size
5
Activity level
Moderate
Flow preference
High
Planting preference
Lightly planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
Medium

Use a mature aquarium at least 90 cm long with high dissolved oxygen, strong but varied current, and smooth stones exposed to bright enough light for biofilm growth. Provide quieter pockets behind rock and wood, keep nitrate and organic waste low, and use a tight cover.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Deze Chinese Sucker spends most of its time attached to stone, glass, or wood while grazing and moving between current-facing positions. Males may posture or chase over favoured rocks, but serious injury is uncommon when the footprint contains several feeding territories.

Keep at least 3, preferably 5 or more, where space allows. Multiple grazing zones and broken sight lines reduce competition.

Adults may defend prime feeding stones for short periods. Spread hardscape and food across the footprint.

Choose small to medium peaceful fish that enjoy clean, oxygen-rich water. Avoid warm, stagnant setups, aggressive bottom dwellers, and fish that monopolise all grazing surfaces.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
18–25 °C
pH
6.5–8
GH
4–18
KH
2–12
TDS
80–320
Stability importance
Important

Prioritise high dissolved oxygen, cool-to-moderate temperature, strong surface movement, and very low organic waste. Heat reduces the oxygen safety margin.

Parameter caveat
Do not place a newly imported rheophilic loach directly into a warm, low-flow aquarium. Acclimate gradually and confirm that the fish can reach quiet resting pockets as well as current.

Feeding

Diet types
Algae Grazer, Aufwuchs Grazer, Omnivore
Feeding frequency
Daily
Preferred foods
  • Biofilm and natural aufwuchsMaintain mature stone and wood surfaces so the fish can graze throughout the day.
  • Quality algae or aufwuchs wafersUse a sinking food containing plant material and some animal protein.
  • Small frozen invertebratesOffer occasional Artemia, Daphnia, cyclops, or finely chopped insect larvae.

Grazes biofilm and algae in fast water. Offer algae wafers and small sinking foods alongside mature surfaces.

Distribute food across several stones so dominant fish cannot guard one feeding point. Do not rely on algae growth alone.

Breeding

Breeding type
Egg Layer, Egg Scatterer
Breeding difficulty
Difficult
Breeding temperature
21.5 °C
Breeding pH
7.2
Brood or egg count
Usually described as a modest scatter of small eggs; dependable species-specific counts are limited.
Incubation
4 days
Parental care
None
Baby foods
  • Infusoria or cultured microscopic foodUse when newly free-swimming fry are too small for Artemia.
  • MicrowormsIntroduce once fry actively search the bottom.
  • Newly hatched Artemia naupliiUse after fry are large enough to swallow nauplii.

Captive breeding is uncommon but may occur in a mature stream aquarium. Condition adults with abundant natural grazing and small live foods, provide gravel, rock crevices, and quieter pockets, and avoid disturbing any eggs or newly emerged fry. Parental care is not expected.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin
Asia, China
Natural habitat
Clearwater, Fast Stream, Fast-Flowing Stream, Rocky Shoreline
Aquarium contexts
Freshwater Aquarium, High-Flow Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
Audience level
Specialist

Classification

Profile type
Recognized species
Genus
Sinogastromyzon
Family
Gastromyzontidae
Species group
Fish, Loaches

Have you kept this species?

You can write a note about what worked for you, or send a photograph. We check everything before it appears here.

Share a note or photo

JPG, PNG, or WebP, up to 5 MB.

Dwarf Chain Loach

Ambastaia sidthimunki

Care level
Intermediate
Adult size
4.2–6 cm
Minimum tank
100 litres
Temperature
24–28 °C

Emperor Loach

Botia udomritthiruji

Care level
Advanced
Adult size
10.5–15 cm
Minimum tank
180 litres
Temperature
23–28 °C

Galaxy Loach

Mesonoemacheilus guentheri

Care level
Specialist
Adult size
6.3–9 cm
Minimum tank
100 litres
Temperature
20–26 °C

Gold Net Hillstream Loach

Gastromyzon auronigrus

Care level
Specialist
Adult size
4.2–6 cm
Minimum tank
60 litres
Temperature
20–25 °C

Plan it with our tools