Recently we were able to introduce you to the new Gastromyzon “Bloody Mary” (one of our readers recommended calling it “Lamandau” after the collecting area): https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fisharchive/gastromyzon-sp-bloody-mary-2/
As mentioned in the above post, we have received further species, a “Red Tail” and a “Bluel”. The “Red Tail” has been known in the hillstream loach community for some time and was given the code number SK2. SK numbers are an attempt, similar to L and C numbers for catfish, to create standardized names for species that have not yet been scientifically recorded but are available in the trade.
According to our supplier, SK2 originate from the area of the sacred mountain range Meratau in South Kalimantan ( = Kalimantan Selatan), an Indonesian province on Borneo. Unfortunately, this mountain range is severely threatened by illegal logging. It is isolated in the rainforest, so that even two endemic bird species have been able to develop there. “Endemic” means that they only occur there and nowhere else. The collector from SK2 informed our supplier that there are 8 other Gastromyzon species in the Meratau area, but that their occurrence is in the sacred zone, which is why he does not trap them.
We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr9CElQO7sI
For our customers: SK2 has code 416599 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
