Home · Balitoridae · Vietnamese hillstream loach
Vietnamese hillstream loach (Hemimyzon ecdyonuroides) — Balitoridae

Vietnamese hillstream loach

Hemimyzon ecdyonuroides
Family: Balitoridae

The Vietnamese hillstream loach (Hemimyzon ecdyonuroides) is a freshwater fish of the family Balitoridae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Vietnamese hillstream loach is a hillstream loach (Balitoridae) from fast-flowing, clear fresh water of Vietnam in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 8 cm and has an elongate, flattened body with broad pectoral and pelvic fins with which it presses to stones against the current, and small barbels. As a bottom-dweller it lives among gravel and rocks of oxygen-rich streams and rasps algae and biofilm and snaps at insect larvae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Vietnamese hillstream loach?

The Vietnamese hillstream loach has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Vietnamese hillstream loach live?

The Vietnamese hillstream loach lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Vietnamese hillstream loach get?

The Vietnamese hillstream loach grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Vietnamese hillstream loach dangerous to humans?

No, the Vietnamese hillstream loach is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vietnamese bergbeekloach sourced
English name
Vietnamese hillstream loach sourced
Scientific name
Hemimyzon ecdyonuroides
Family
Balitoridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hemimyzon

More from the family Balitoridae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →