Edit Lepidocephalichthys annandalei

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Name

Scientific name

Lepidocephalichthys annandalei

Described by

Authority Chaudhuri, Year 1912

Family

Cobitidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 11 credited

Summary

Lepidocephalichthys annandalei is a cobitid loach from the mid-to-lower Ganges and Brahmaputra systems in Nepal, Bangladesh and north-east …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

45mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 45 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22.5–26°C, pH 5.5–7.5

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Mahananda, Teesta

Writing

Etymology

annandalei: named for Dr. N. Annandale, former Director of the Zoological Survey of India.

Distribution

Mid-to-lower reaches of the Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems in Nepal, Bangladesh plus surrounding north-east Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West B…

Habitat

Most commonly found in shallow, slow-moving sections of streams or calm habitats such as swamps, oxbows, backwaters and paddy fields. These are often heavily-v…

Most commonly found in shallow, slow-moving sections of streams or calm habitats such as swamps, oxbows, backwaters and paddy fields. These are often heavily-vegetated or littered with submerged roots, branches and leaf litter, with substrates composed of soft mud or silt.

Water clarity and depth vary on a seasonal basis across much of its range, and at certain times of year it probably enters temporarily-flooded zones. Conversely during dry periods some habitats may become stagnant with blooms of macrophytic algae and resultant hypoxia (oxygen depletion).

Under such conditions members of this genus are able to use the intestine as a supplementary breathing organ and have been observed darting to the surface to gulp atmospheric air. Some species have even been recorded to survive periods in moist sand or mud in the absence of water.

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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

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Aquarium size

Base dimensions of 45 ∗ 30 cm or more are required.

Maintenance

Not difficult to keep but must be provided with a soft, sandy substrate since some of its time will be spent completely buried, or with only eyes protruding. W…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Chiefly a micropredator typically sifting mouthfuls of substrate through the gills from which insect larvae, small crustaceans and suchlike are extracted. In t…

Behaviour and compatibility

Lepidocephalichthys spp. are peaceful both with one another and other fishes and there exist no reports of them harming tankmates though they may prey on eggs …

Sexual dimorphism

In mature males the pectoral fins are enlarged with fused, thickened innermost (7th and 8th) rays forming a structure known as the lamina circularis. This gene…

Reproduction

Presumably a seasonal spawner in nature but hasn't been bred in captivity as far as we know.

Notes

L. annandalei is rarely-traded but when available it's been sold under the name L. sp. 'peacock'. Presumably this is in reference to the caudal-fin patterning,…

References

9 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