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Allan James (2) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (2) Beta Mahatvaraj (1) Andrew Rao (2) Mahbubur Rahman Sampod (1)

Description: Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal soft rays: 9 - 12; Vertebrae: 35 - 36. Matures at less than 7 cm SL. . Anal fin with 4-5 simple rays, 9-11 branched rays. Upper jaw and 4th ceratobranchial toothless; lower jaw with few conical teeth in pocket or depression near symphysis. Snout tip acutely pointed in lateral view, with tip separated from the rest of the snout by distinct notch. Colouration: Dorsal with dark saddles extending ventrally only to lateral line. Caudal fin with transverse black bar across peduncle and round or square black spot on middle of each lobe. Dorsal fin with black spot on distal part of anterior rays. Habitat: Inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms in the rivers. The Indus River system, the Mahanadi River, the Ganges basin and the Brahmaputra river Drainage are the distribution areas for this specimen, also reported from the Salwin River and Myanmar. Aquarium Care: This is a peaceful species which would be better kept in a group of about 6 specimens with plenty of swimming space. Provide good filtration and aeration as this species is not the easiect to keep in the aquarium. Provide a sand substrate with plants as an option. Diet: Live, frozen and tablet foods. Etymology: The genus name Gagata: Local fish name, kenyakatta, in Bengal. The specific name: cenia: comes from the local name of the fish (sinia). Remarks: Although there is little information on the global population and its trend for this species, it is still a relatively common species, especially in the Ganges-Brahmaputra system. There are also no perceptible threats currently, although more research is needed in this area. Even though the taxonomy of this species requires some study (its presence in the Indus River drainage in Pakistan needs confirmation), it is assessed as Least Concern at the present (IUCN 2010 needs updating).

Clown Catfish

Pimelodus cenia

Sisoridae

Asia: Widely distributed in the Ganges basin, the Indus River system, and the Mahanadi  River.

12.0cm. (4¾ins)

20-24°c (67-75°f.)

6.0-7.2.

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1991. Aquarien atlas. Bd. 3. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 1104 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2011. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version.
Mahbubur Rahman Sampod pers comm 2023.
Ng, H.H. 2010. Gagata cenia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
Roberts, T.R. and C.J. Ferraris Jr., 1998. Review of South Asian sisorid catfish genera Gagata and Nangra, with descriptions of a new genus and five new species. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50(14):315-345.
Talwar, P.K. and A.G. Jhingran, 1991. Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. Volume 2. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, i-xxii + 543-1158, 1 pl.