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Brachyglanis melas Eigenmann, 1912

Image contributors to this species:

Donald Taphorn (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

There are 6 species mostly from Guyana in this poorly known genera. Description: The caudal fin is forked, with the lobes short and equal. Aquarium Care: House in aquaria (24ins/60cm or over) with alternate sand and gravel substrate. Provide planted area. Keep in a species tank or with Corydoras and larger Characins or Anabantoides in the top half as they can be predatory with small species such as Neon Tetras. Diet: Tablet and pellet foods. Frozen and live foods such as bloodworm. Insect larvae. Not a fussy eater. Etymology: The specific name melas: mélas (Gr.), black, referring to its uniform light-brown to blue-black coloration. Remarks: The dorsal and pectoral fins have well developed pungent spines so you would need to be careful handling this species.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Heptapteridae

Distribution:

South America: Essequibo River basin, Guyana. Type Locality: Crab Falls, British Guiana.

Size:

6.0cm. TL (2½ins)

Temp:

22-25°C (71-77°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

Reference:

Bockmann, F.A. and G.M. Guazzelli, 2003. Heptapteridae (Heptapterids). p. 406-431. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
Burgess, W.E., 1989. An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 10/2018 ).

Family: Heptapteridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Brachyglanis melas
Upper Potaro River, Guyana

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