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Kryptopterus cryptopterus (Bleeker, 1851)

Image contributors to this species:

Allan James (3) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (4)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Aquarium Care: Quite a peaceful species that is best kept in a group which needs a lot of swimming space. Will consider smaller fish (less than 4cm) as prey. Active during the day in a tank 4ft (120cm) or over with quiet tank mates. Provide a planted tank with overhanging or floating plants. Diet: Small live foods and good quality flake. Frozen and tablet foods. Etymology: The specific name cryptopterus: cryptos, from krypt, hidden; pterus, from pterón or ptéryx, fin, referring to its dorsal fin, described as a “short slender thread” (translation).

Common Name:

Blue Sheathfish

Synonyms:

Silurus cryptopterus, Kryptopterus micropus

Family:

Siluridae

Distribution:

Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins; also from the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. Type locality: Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia.

Size:

20.0cm. (8ins)

Temp:

22-25°C (71-77°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Although there is no detailed information on the population size and trend of this species, it is still abundant throughout its known distribution and the population trend is thus suspected to be stable or declining at a rate that precludes it from a threatened catgory. While there may be localised or regional threats, they are unlikely to affect this species on a range-wide scale, and it is likely found within several protected areas. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2019).

Reference:

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1985. Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2021. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2021 ).
Ng, H.H. 2019. Kryptopterus cryptopterus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019.
Roberts, T.R., 1989. The freshwater fishes of Western Borneo (Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia). Mem. Calif. Acad. Sci. 14:210 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Kryptopterus cryptoperus

Kryptopterus cryptoperus

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