Taxonomy & naming
Described by Walter Volz in 1904 and later moved to Glyptothorax, hence the parentheses. The type locality is Simbolon Gebirge (Dolok Simbolon, 3 deg 01 min N, 98 deg 54 min E), central Sumatra, at about 4,593 ft elevation. It is a valid species in the Catalog of Fishes. The epithet is a Latinised surname; the dedication is not recorded here.
Morphology
A flattened catfish with a thoracic adhesive pad and spined dorsal and pectoral fins, adapted to current. FishBase gives a maximum of 3.5 in SL.
Habitat
A Sumatran highland stream fish; the type locality lies at about 4,593 ft. FishBase describes it from the upper parts of river drainages, in streams and rivers with strong current over rocks and gravel.
Feeding
A benthic insectivore; no species-specific data.
Mating
Mating behaviour is not documented for Glyptothorax schmidti in the sources available to the atlas. Sexes cannot be separated reliably from the information available.
Breeding
No spawning or breeding record is known to the atlas.
In the aquarium
Highland origin suggests cooler, strongly oxygenated, flowing water. Rarely available, and it needs a dedicated hillstream setup.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Glyptothorax schmidti as Least Concern in 2019. Hillstream fishes are sensitive to siltation, damming and altered flow.