Habitat:
Found mainly in ponds, ditches, swamps and marshes,
but sometimes occurs in muddy rivers. Can tolerate
slightly brackish water. Diet: Omnivorous.
Reproduction: Breeds in confined
waters during the monsoon months, but can breed in
ponds, derelict ponds and ditches when sufficient
rain-water accumulates. Oviparous, distinct
pairing possibly like other members of the same family.
Aquarium Care: Apart from giving
it the utmost respect when handling, it does very
well in a larger aquarium, and you can either keep
it alone with other inhabitants that are too big for
its mouth (large Barbs, Cichlids etc.) or in a group
situation if you would like the challenge of breeding
them. A sand substrate is best with hiding places
of rock and cave work and making sure that it has
plenty of swimming space, as they do like to cruise
the tank during the night time hours. Keep your regular
water changes up with good filtration as they are
a greedy species, and can make a mess of your aquarium
if good husbandry is not adhered to. Can be differentiated
from Heteropneustes
microps by
having a notch between the anal and caudal fin while
microps is closed. Update2021: The
genus Heteropneustes has now been
removed from the Clariidae family
and reinstated to the Heteropneustidae
Hora, 1936 and
H. microps has been deemed to be a synonym
of H. fossillis.
Asia:
Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Myanmar. Type locality:
Tranquebar.
Size:
30cm. (12ins)
Temp:
21-25°C
(69-77°F)
p.H.
6.0-8.0.
Reference:
Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2008. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, version (11/2008).
ScotCat
Factsheetno.
91. Jan. 2004.
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