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Abhisek Mishra (2) Frank M. Greco (1)

Batasio fasciolatus was described from the Brahmaputra River drainage in West Bengal, India (Ng 2006). Batasio fasciolatus has often been midisentified as B. tengana in the older literature (e.g. Hora and Law 1941). Habitat: Batasio species are small, laterally compressed bagrid catfishes generally found in fast-flowing hill streams throughout South Asia, Myanmar, the Salween and Mae Khlong drainages of Thailand and the northern Malay Peninsula. Occurs in rivers and streams with moderate to swift current and a predominantly rocky bottom; less often in slow-flowing streams with a muddy substrate. Hides among stones or submerged vegetation during the day and comes out at night to feed. Aquarium Care: Batasio are shy, rarely moving freely once settled in the tank. To keep long term a proper hillstream type setup must be provided with rocks and ample hiding spaces should be given with pristine and oxygen saturated waters. Since these come from hillstreams, temperature should also be on the lower side (Mishra, Abhisek 2024). Diet: They can be difficult to feed at first but gradually will take frozen or live food and can be weaned on to take pellets (Mishra, Abhisek 2024). Etymology: The genus name Batasio: from the local (Bengali) name of the fish (batasio or batashi). The specific name fasciolatus: diminutive of fasciatus (L.), banded, i.e., with small bands, referring to six vertical dark brown bars on head and body. Remarks: Batasio fasciolatus is a poorly studied species with a fairly wide distribution in northeastern India. Although the population size and trend for this species remain unknown, it is only known from scanty museum records, and there is also very little information on the biology of this species and potential impacts of threats (especially those of an anthropogenic nature) based only on its distribution it is assessed as Least Concern presently. It is recommended that further studies are conducted to establish some of the missing information to adequately assess its status later (IUCN 2010 needs updating).

None

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Bagridae

Asia: Tista River basin, Brahmaputra River system, India and Bhutan.

7.0cm (2¾ins)

18-23°C (63-73°F)

6.0-7.0.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2024 ).
Mishra, Abhisek pers comm, 2024.
Ng, H.H., 2006. The identity of Batasio tengana (Hamilton, 1822), with the descripton of two new species Batasio from north-eastern India (Teleostei: Bagridae). J. Fish Biol. 68(Suppl.A):101-118.
Ng, H.H. 2010. Batasio fasciolatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.