Edit Kryptopterus cryptopterus

You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.

Name

Scientific name

Kryptopterus cryptopterus

Described by

Authority Bleeker, Year 1851, Bracketed

Family

Siluridae

Common names

Blue Sheatfish

Photograph credits

All 1 credited

Summary

The blue sheatfish, Kryptopterus cryptopterus, is a silurid catfish from the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo and Java. It inhab…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

147mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–27°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Java, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Baleh, Banyuasin, Baram, Batang Hari, Indragiri, Kapuas, Musi, Rajang, Sambas

Writing

Etymology

Kryptopterus: from the Greek kryptos, meaning 'hidden', and pterýgio, meaning 'fin', in reference to the reduced or absent dorsal-fin in members of this genus.…

Distribution

Known from the Malay Peninsula and Singapore plus Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java with populati0ns from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam …

Habitat

Inhabits flowing rivers and larger streams typified by turbid water with a lot of suspended sediment.

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of 120 ∗ 45 cm or equivalent should be the smallest considered.

Maintenance

Décor is relatively unimportant although this species prefers weakly-lit conditions and may become skittish in the absence of cover. Do not add introduce it to…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Probably a predator feeding on crustaceans, invertebrates and smaller fishes in nature, although there should be no need to use such live foods in captivity. O…

Behaviour and compatibility

Generally peaceful though it may predate on smaller fishes and is somewhat timid so does not compete well with much larger, robust or otherwise boisterous spec…

Generally peaceful though it may predate on smaller fishes and is somewhat timid so does not compete well with much larger, robust or otherwise boisterous species.

Peaceful, comparably-sized cyprinids, loaches and other catfishes perhaps constitute the best options but be sure to research your choices thoroughly prior to purchase.

K. cryptopterus is gregarious and tends to form schools so ideally four or more specimens should be purchased.

Editing needs JavaScript. This is the text as it was last saved.

Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

Web address

Paste the address of the page that says this. What counts as a source

DOI

Paste a DOI and we will look up the rest of the reference. A DOI looks like 10.11646/zootaxa.4694.4.1, and most papers print it on the first page.

Title

Enter the title of the paper, book or page. If you leave it empty, we will use the website's address.

Authors

Separate authors with semicolons, e.g. Tan, H.H.; Ng, P.K.L.

Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

Enter the page that says this, e.g. 218 or 218–221.

Anything worth adding

Describe what you saw, or which part of the source says this.

Sexual dimorphism

Adult males are noticeably slimmer than females but additional information is contradictory with some sources stating that the posterior edge of the pectoral-f…

Reproduction

Unrecorded. In nature the closely-related congener K. geminus (see 'Notes') spawns at the onset of the wet season with young specimens common in seasonally-inu…

Notes

This species is sometimes traded as 'smokey glass catfish'. Its closest relative is K. geminus, populations of which were formerly considered to represent K. c…

References

10 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References