Crossocheilus elegans

Overview

Known from northern Borneo, Crossocheilus elegans is a hill-stream cyprinid with a distinctive pale yellow-brown band between its dark back and blackish flank stripe. This color arrangement is useful when separating it from similar striped fishes.

Distribution & habitat

Confirmed records are confined to the Segama and Kinabatangan systems in Sabah, Malaysia. Most collections came from riffles or nearby sections of rocky headwater streams with fast current.

Aquarium setup

A footprint of at least 150 by 45 cm is recommended. Its rocky stream background is relevant when arranging space for movement and access to surfaces carrying food growth.

Diet & feeding

Algae, diatoms, and accompanying microorganisms form the grazing diet described for the genus. Captive feeding recommendations combine quality vegetable-containing dry products with foods such as shelled peas, softened zucchini, spinach, and chopped fruit.

A persistently high-protein menu is unsuitable. Acclimated fish may ascend into midwater for food and also browse biofilm from rocks.

Notes

The dark flank marking runs from near the gill opening to the center of the tail base, while the pale band separates it from the dark brown upper body. Earlier accounts used other names for this fish. Stripe boundaries and dorsal coloration are more useful than an old trade label alone.