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Dorsal spines (total):
1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae:
32 - 33. The following unique characters separate this species
from all other species of Tatia: postcleithral process
well developed, reaching almost to a vertical through the dorsal-fin
origin; orbital diameter 37.0-42.9% HL; and snout length 23.1-28.9%
HL . Can be further distinguished by the following features: narrow
elliptical cranial fontanel; ribs 7; nasal ossified with wide
medial flanges partially sutured to lateral margin of mesethmoid;
colouration variable, sides of body usually dark with light, rounded
spots or dots, or sometimes uniformly pale brown; toothed prevomer
in examined large adult specimens. Aquarium Care:
Give them small pipes, as they do seem to like to hide in the
crevices of bogwood as well. They appear to be happier if they
can jam themselves in with the use of their pectoral fins. Community
tanks are fine for this species although you may find that they
will predate on fry from other species, but apart from that they
come well recommended but don't expect to see them too often.
Diet: In its native habitat they feed on small
invertebrates and crustaceans and in the aquarium they will eat
anything given such as frozen bloodworm inserted in to their hideaway,
catfish tablets, white worm (sparingly) and prawns and shrimp.
They do like their food and you can see them shooting out of their
hideouts and swimming in a frenzied manner to try and take all
for themselves, especially when you feed them their favourite
food, frozen bloodworm. Another food that they love is Fish Farm
pellets but you have to watch the water quality with this food
as it can quickly foul the water, so feed sparingly. Remarks:
T.galaxias is quite a rare find in imports as you will
be probably looking at T.intermedia
instead, as this species is often sold as T.galaxias. Mees
(1974) described T. galaxias on the basis of its diagnostic
colour pattern of small white spots evenly spaced over a dark
body. Mees, (1974: 88) considered its coloration reminiscent of
that of T. intermedia, except in T. galaxias the
body is darker, the spots smaller, and the tail dark with white
spots (vs. pale with dark spots and cross-bars in T. intermedia).
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