Description:
Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 5; Anal soft rays: 10
– 11; Vertebrae: 29 – 31. Erethistoides
sicula differs from both E. montana
and E. pipri in having a longer caudal peduncle
(19.6– 22.3% SL vs. 14.4–18.4) and
shorter pectoral spine (14.6–28.0% SL vs. 30.7–32.1).
It further differs from E. montana in having
a dorsally projecting bony splint on the opercle immediately
posterior to its articular facet with the hyomandibula
(vs. splint absent; and from E. pipri in
having a more slender head. Habitat:
The first four thumbnail specimens were collected
at Mathabhanga in the Coochbehar District of
West Bengal. Aquarium Care: A tank
with a sandy bottom, rounded stones, pebbles and bogwood
with a good water flow as befits an asian hillstream
setup. Good water quality is a must for this family.
Keep the water temperature on the cool side of a tropical
aquarium. Tank mates such as the zebra danio (Brachydanio
rerio) and Rasboras of the same small size will make
good tankmates. Diet: Prefers live
foods such as bloodworm, grindle worm and daphnia.
Remarks:
Ferraris (2007) stated that the Erethistidae be moved
back into the Sisoridae family but we at ScotCat are
at the moment (2021) still keeping it and the Erithistidae
family until further scientific work is carried out
on this poorly documented genera and family.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Erethistidae
Distribution:
Asia: Known from
the Mansai River drainage, itself a tributary of the
Brahmaputra River in northern West Bengal state in
India.
Size:
4.0cm (1½ins)
Temp:
18-24°C (63-75°F)
p.H.
6.5-7.2.
Reference:
Adrian Taylor:
pers.comm. Ng, H. H.
2005 Erethistoides sicula, a new catfish (Teleostei:
Erethistidae) from India. Zootaxa 1021:1-12.
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