Endau basin

This species is among the few members of the family to have been exported for the aquarium hobby. It can be differentiated from all other Akysis species by the following combination of characters: head length 17.7-26.5% of standard length (SL); head width 25.4-28.7% SL; body depth at anus 13.0-17.0% SL; caudal peduncle depth 8.1-10.1% SL; interorbital di...

This species is commonly-referred to as 'T-barb' in some countries. It's closely-affiliated with and sometimes traded as the congener B. kuchingensis but that species can be told apart by colour pattern comprising a prominent row of dark spots along the lateral line, plus a short, horizontally-orientated streak extending from the upper part of the operculum. In B. lateristriga the lateral markings usually form a solid stripe and there is no streak extending from the operculum.

This is one of two species traded under the vernacular name 'tinfoil barb', the other being the less well-known congener B. altus. Despite this it appears that B. altus is just as widely available as B. schwanefeldii and in many cases is seen on sale more regularly. Unfortunately both are usually offered at a small size (usually around 50 - 75 mm) with little to no information regarding the eventual size of the fish.

Type locality is '55 miles north of Singapore, freshwater ditches, Mawai District, Johore, Malaysia', and this species has been recorded throughout much of Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand. Records from Borneo and Singapore appear to be in error although it may have been extirpated from the latter but as with most members of the genus a degree of confusion surrounds its identity (see 'Notes').

Generally considered to have an enormous natural range extending from Iran to Taiwan and Bali, with records existing from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. However there exists significant evidence to suggest that C. gachua as currently understood represents a complex of similar-looking species, and a taxonomic review of the group is clearly required.

Prefers a dimly-lit aquarium with plenty of cover in the form of live plants, driftwood branches, terracotta pipes, plant pots, etc., arranged to form a network of nooks, crannies, and shaded spots. Surface vegetation such as Ceratopteris spp. is also appreciated and makes the fish less inclined to conceal themselves.

In the aquarium trade this species may also be seen on sale as 'skinhead barb'. As with others in the genus little has been written regarding its captive care but it makes a peaceful and unusual addition to larger aquaria. The best way of obtaining it may be to keep an eye on shipments of wild fishes from Indochina and the Greater Sunda Islands as it's rarely imported in large numbers and most often arrives as bycatch.

It can be distinguished from congeners by possessing one or two pairs of barbels, a black blotch at the base of the caudal-fin, and rows of dark spots along the lateral scale rows. Members of Cyclocheilichthys are characterised by possessing a serrated dorsal fin spine, 9 branched pelvic fin rays, a conical snout, small, subterminal...

An ideal resident of the larger, well-furnished community set-up though it might upset slow-moving or timid companions simply by its size. There are plenty of suitable tankmates including many cyprinids, loaches, cichlids, catfish and characins, but as always when selecting a compatible community of fish proper research is essential. A community based around one of its native countries or river basins...

The reason that the paired fins are orientated vertically, as opposed to horizontally in other members of the genus, is unclear but Roberts (1989) suggest it may be an adaptation to this species' ecology, in that it displays a preference for submerged vegetation or woody structures as opposed to rocky environments. They're certainly adapted for a rea...

The water at the type locality is described as 'clear and fast-flowing over a rocky substratum'. H. parclitella was observed in shallow water among the rocks, and sympatric species included Garra cambodgiensis, Neolissochilus soroides, Poropuntius smedleyi, 'Puntius' binotatus, Homaloptera nebulosa and Amblyceps mangois.

The genus Homalopteroides was revalidated by Randall and Page (2012) and is told apart from the related Homaloptera by the following character combination: dorsal-fin origin above pelvic-fin; ≤ 60 lateral-line scales; ≤ 30 predorsal scales; oral morphology consisting of two thin and widely separated rostral barbels on each side of the mouth, thin crescent-shaped lips, the absence of any structure such as a mental pad or lobes between the lateral portions of the lower lip, and a chin that extends anterior to the lateral portions of the lower lip.

Described from Kota Tinggi district, Johor state, Peninsular Malaysia but since recorded throughout much of the country as well as parts of the the Mekong river system in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam plus the Kapuas and several other river basins in Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan) province, Indonesian Borneo. In the Kahang River, part of the Endau drainage in Jo...

This species is occasionally marketed as 'Burmese Rainbow Barb' in the ornamental trade. others may have been exported in small numbers or as bycatch among shipments of other species. It was referred to as Mystacoleucus marginatus for decades, but that name is a simultaneous subjective synonym of M. obtusirostris following Kottelat (2013).

This species was originally named Nemacheilus masyae but following ICZN rules the spelling was later corrected to N. masyai because it's named after a man. It can be distinguished from the majority of congeners by body patterning comprising 14-18 short, dark vertical bars on each flank, 12-17 saddle-like markings running along the dorsal surface, a dark spot on the caudal peduncle at the termination of the lateral line and a dark blotch in the lower half of the first few dorsal-fin rays.

N. selangoricus is most similar to N. spiniferus since it possesses acuminate scales above and below the lateral line on the caudal peduncle, a feature not shared with any other congener. It can however be distinguished by the following characters: presence of 8-12 very regular dark bars on flanks (vs. 10-13 irregularly-shaped bars in N. spiniferus), 3-5 times...

We're unsure if this species has ever been traded on a commercial basis though we know of several private collectors who've maintained it. It's difficult to confuse with any other balitorid due to the small adult size and distinctive orange to reddish-brown body colouration, and was originally described as a subgenus by Herre (1944) before Silas (1953) raised it to full genus status. It was later syonymised with Homaloptera by Alfred (1969) but has been generally accepted as a distinct, valid genus since Roberts (1989).

Infrequently encountered in the aquarium trade, most often as bycatch among shipments of similar-looking congeners. It's included in the P. kuhlii group of closely-related species within the genus, and can be distinguished from other members by...

One of a handful of Pangio spp. traded under the generic name 'eel loach', though it's most commonly available as bycatch among shipments of other fishes. Some authors have suggested it may be synonymous with P. anguillaris bu...

Recorded from numerous river basins in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia, including the Mekong, Chao Phraya, Mae Khlong, Chanthaburi, Tapi, Golok, Terengganu, Pahang, Endau, and Muar. Type locality is 'Kratt, southeastern Siam', which corresponds to modern-day Trat Province, Thailand.

The identity of this species was unclear for a number of decades prior to its redescription by Ng and Kottelat (2013). The confusion originated with Brittan (1954) who misidentified specimens of R. tornieri as R. dusonensis and was exacerbated by Alfred (1963) who concluded that the holotype of R. dusonensis was conspecific with R. myersi.

The genus Sphaerichthys currently comprises four species with S. osphromenoides by far the best known in the hobby. It's easily distinguishable from the congeners S. vaillanti and S. acrostoma since both exhibit a notably more elongate head and body profile, reverse sexual dimorphism (i.e. females are the more colourful/strongly-patterened), and are paternal mouthbrooders.

The common name is derived from the ability of genus members to produce audible sounds via a specialised pectoral mechanism which is unique within the family Osphronemidae. The structure comprises modified pectoral-fin tendons and muscles which are stretched and plucked by basal elevations of two fin rays in a similar way to guitar strings via rapid beating of the fins. The pectoral-fins beat alternately, each able to generate short or long bursts of sound. These sounds are produced by both sexes, predom...

This species is traded under various names including 'chocolate scissor-tailed loach', chocolate long-finned loach', 'red line cobra loach', 'spiny eel loach' and 'dragon loach'. It's apparently difficult to find in its natural habitats and thus time-consuming to collect, meaning it's rarely traded in numbers, sought after by enthusiasts and tends to carry a relatively high price tag when available. The genus currently contains just three...

This species is a near-exclusive inhabitant of the upper water column and appreciates surface cover in the form of floating or overhanging vegetation. Other décor is relatively unimportant but can consist of a sandy substrate with leaf litter plus some large driftwood branches and twisted roots. Plants which can grow rooted in sand can al...

C. micropeltes is also referred to as 'Indonesian', 'red', or 'redline' snakehead, the latter names in reference to the appearance of juveniles which often appear in the ornamental trade despite its unsuitability for home aquaria. It is somewhat hyperbolised in the media as a fearsome, invasive "monster" fish with a reputation for killing more fish than it can eat, and even the occasional human, although in reality...

This species is not collected for the aquarium trade at time of writing. In contrast to other members of the genus older juvenile and adult individuals lack dark markings on the body while the jaw is more pronounced.

In the Mekong, it has been observed to migrate upstream from Phnom Penh to Khone Falls between November and February, returning downstream between May and August. The downstream migration ends in the Mekong delta area in Vietnam, where the fish remain until the floods reach their peak in October and November. These lower Mekong migrations mostly comprise juveniles and sub-adults, whereas above Khone Falls...

This species is also known by the vernacular 'jungle perch' or 'sidebar barb' and should not be considered an aquarium subject in all but the most extreme circumstances since it can grow to over 2 feet in length, weigh in excess of 5 kg and is a powerful, pelagic predator. It's also a popular sport fish with a reputation for striking hard.

This species is also referred to as 'Asian knifefish' or 'ghost knifefish' in the aquarium trade in the aquarium trade but arguably has no place in the ornamental hobby given its adult size and specialised requirements. It is sometimes confused with the African species Xenomystus nigri but is easily told apart by its larger adult size and presence (vs. absence) of a dorsal fin.