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he family Akysidae includes small and miniature species which are sexually mature when only 3cm. They are characterised by their short dorsal fin with a sharp spine, a distinctive adipose fin, and a broad-based barbel developed on the posterior nostril. So this month, we focus on "Hendrickson's Catfish", a nicely patterned species from Peninsular Malaysia.

     Akysis hendricksoni

All species in this genus possess a venomous apparatus at the base of the dorsal and pectoral spines, and though not dangerous to a healthy human, they can inflict a painful sting, so they should be handled with care when being removed from the water for any reason or during aquarium maintenance.

Like other members of its genus, an aquaria with a sand substrate interspersed with small rocks and pebbles mixed with thick clumps of plants would suffice. Unless feeding, when they are highly active, they can be overlooked in aquaria that have a sand substrate, as they like nothing better than to bury themselves, leaving only their nasal barbels, which protrude slightly from the sand to indicate where they are. So the next time you see a tank labelled ‘Akysis’, and there appears to be an empty tank, check the substrate to see if you see any barbels protruding out of the substrate.

Hendrickson's Catfish

None

Akysinae

South Asia: Sungai Golok, Sungai, Terengganu, Sabak Bernam, and Endau basins, peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. Type locality: Terengganu River at Kuala Brang, Terengganu, Malaya.

5.0cm (2ins)

18-22°C (63-71°F)

Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 7; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 31 - 34. Distinguished from all its congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of 4-6 serrae on posterior edge of pectoral spine; head length 17.7-26.5% SL; head width 25.4-28.7% SL; body depth at anus 13.0-17.0% SL; depth of caudal peduncle 8.1-10.1% SL; interorbital distance 43-64% HL; length of nasal barbel 55-79% HL; length of maxillary barbel 102-167% HL; and caudal fin deeply emarginate.

Akysis are easy to keep for any decent fishkeeper. You can keep them in small tanks (30cm wide x 20cm high x 30cm deep) with a sand bottom, small pipes, and caves. They will either bury themselves in the sand or hide in caves and pipes. They are not usually active during the day but will spring to action and eat voraciously and crazily if food is put in the tank (Taylor, Adrian).

Not recorded.

Females have a heavier looking body shape. Males are slimmer by comparison.

Diet: They will eat bloodworm, chopped earthworms, whiteworm, daphnia, and sinking pellets (although they seem to prefer live or frozen food), (Taylor, Adrian).

Adipose fin: Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal fin.
Anal fin: The median, unpaired, ventrally located fin that lies behind the anus, usually on the posterior half of the fish.
Caudal fin: The tail.
Caudal peduncle: The narrow part of a fish's body to which the caudal or tail fin is attached.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Emarginate: Concave; used to describe the posterior border of a caudal fin which is inwardly curved; a caudal fin with a slightly concave margin.
Maxillary barbel: Pertaining to the upper jaw (maxillary barbels).
Nasal barbel: On top of the head, by the nostrils (nasal barbels).
Pectoral fin: The paired fins just behind the head.
Serrae: Sawlike part or organ.

Akysis: A = without; kysis = bladder, in reference to the lack of a swimbladder.
hendricksoni: In honour John R. Hendrickson (1921-2002), Vice-Chancellor of the East-West Center, University of Hawaii, who was Alfred’s first teacher in ichthyology; he also helped collect type.

Photo Credits

© Zhou Hang.
© Adrian Taylor.
Map: Google maps. 2026.