Edit Lepidocephalichthys goalparensis

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Name

Scientific name

Lepidocephalichthys goalparensis

Described by

Authority Pillai & Yazdani, Year 1976

Family

Cobitidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 6 credited

Summary

Lepidocephalichthys goalparensis is a cobitid loach from the Brahmaputra, Ganges and upper Irrawaddy basins in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

45mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 45 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22.8–26.1°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Ayeyarwady, Brahmaputra, Ganges

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Known from the Brahmaputra and Ganges river drainages in Nepal, northern India and Bangladesh plus parts of the upper Irrawaddy (aka Ayeyarwaddy) basin in Myan…

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…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of 30 cm or more.

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

Temperature: 22.8 – 26.1 °C pH: 6.0 - 7.5 Hardness: 2 - 15°H

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 …

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 or fry.

They fare best in the presence of conspecifics and should ideally be kept in a group of 4 or more specimens.

L. goalparensis should do well alongside fishes from similar environments that occupy the upper part of the water column such as Trichopodus, Trichogaster, Trichopsis or certain Danio species.

The presence of these should also make it less timid as the absence of fishes in the upper water column is often used as a signifier for approaching danger in nature.

Sand-dwelling loaches from the families Botiidae, Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae are also suitable but proper research is essential as some can be excessively territorial or otherwise aggressive.

A community based around fishes from its natural waters could include species such as Badis badis, Acanthocobitis zonalternans, Lepidocephalichthys guntea, Danio rerio, Trichogaster chuna and Trichogaster lalius.

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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.

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DOI

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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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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.

Notes

This species is almost unheard of in the hobby with the specimen pictured here the only one we're aware of. It was imported into the United Kingdom in late 201…

References

7 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