Edit Kryptopterus cryptopterus
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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
Social needs
A shoal or group
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…
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
References
10 on this profile