Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total):
4-5; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 56 - 93. Habitat:
Occurs in lakes, swamps and rivers, including turbid
backwaters and clear, flowing tributaries). Inhabits
bottom of warm, clear, flowing streams; also lives
in billabongs and flooded lagoons. Reproduction:
Reaches sexual maturity at about 12 centimeters. Aquarium
Care: Better suited to larger tanks of 4ft
(120cm) or over with rocks and plants provided for
cover. This genera are easily spooked in the aquarium
but N. brevidorsalis seems to be a suitable
candinate for larger aquariums. Best kept in small
groups of 4-6 individuals. The pectoral and dorsal
spines, as is the norm in this genera, are venomous
so handle with care. In my personal experience they
are well suited to larger tanks with other same sized
or larger inhabitants and will hold their own in that
company and are generally peaceful with other placid
species. Diet: Feeds on insects,
prawns, mollusks and small crayfish. In the aquarium,
snails, insects, prawns, earthworms and other small
crustaceans and will take most aquarium foods. Remarks:
Uncommon in Australia as it is found only in the far
north at the tip of the Cape York peninsula in Queensland.
It is more widespread in southern New Guinea. The
first three specimens in the thumbnail gallery were
captured in Papua New Guinea (Timika).
Asia & Oceania:
Northern Australia at Cape York Peninsula and central-southern
New Guinea. Type locality: Nicol
Bay, Cape York, Queensland, Australia. Inawe, St.
Joseph River, New Guinea. Sogeri, New Guinea.
Size:
15-20.0cm. (6-8ins)
Temp:
22-28°C (71-83°F)
p.H.
6.0-8.0.
Reference:
Allen, G.R., S.H. Midgley
and M. Allen, 2002. Field guide to the freshwater
fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth,
Western Australia. 394 p. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2011. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, version. ScotCat
Factsheetno.
202. April 2013.
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