Taxonomy & naming
Kullander & Fang described the species in 2004 from Naung Pin Thar Chaung, Ayeyarwaddy Division. Garra is a large genus of sucker-mouthed labeonine cyprinids, ranging from West Africa and the Middle East across South and Southeast Asia to China.
Morphology
A typical Garra: elongate, with a ventral mouth and an adhesive mental disc on the lower lip. FishBase gives a maximum of 2.5 in SL; colour has not been described in the sources the atlas uses. The name spilota means spotted.
Habitat
It is known from a small stream in the lower Irrawaddy drainage, Ayeyarwaddy Division, Myanmar, and FishBase lists it as a freshwater, benthopelagic fish of tropical water. Water parameters have not been published.
Feeding
Garra species are grazers. The lower lip forms an adhesive mental disc, and the fish rasp algae, diatoms and biofilm from stone with the hardened jaw edge, taking small invertebrates and detritus along with it. The diet of this species has not been described separately.
Mating
Mating has not been described for this species. Related Garra are seasonal egg-scatterers with no parental care, with ripe males carrying snout tubercles.
Breeding
Spawning has not been documented. Related Garra scatter eggs over stone and gravel and give them no care.
In the aquarium
FishBase notes that Fang, in a personal communication of 2004, considered this fish a possible aquarium species. Treat it as a hillstream fish: a long tank, strong flow, high oxygen, rounded stones and wood with algae and biofilm to graze, and a tight lid, since Garra climb and jump. Keep a group rather than a single fish, and give mixed algae wafers, sinking pellets and small live or frozen foods. Care notes come from the genus.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List category is Near Threatened, assessed in 2010. That means the species is close to qualifying for a threatened category. It is known from a very small area.