Edit Mekongina erythrospila
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Name
Scientific name
Mekongina erythrospila
Described by
Authority Fowler, Year 1937
Family
Cyprinidae
Common names
Not recorded
Photograph credits
All 5 credited
Summary
Mekongina erythrospila is a large cyprinid endemic to the middle and lower Mekong River system in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It …
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
450mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–26°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
2–15dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Territorial
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Mekong, Nam Ou, Nam Theun, Sekong, Sesan, Srepok, Xe Bang Fai
Writing
Etymology
Mekongina: In reference to the Mekong river, to which the type species is endemic. erythrospila: from the Ancient Greek ἐρυθρός (eruthrós), meaning 'red', and …
Distribution
Endemic to the middle and lower Mekong River system in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its known range extends from Chiang Rai province, Thailand in the…
Habitat
Tends to inhabit medium to large-sized river channels and displays a preference for fast-flowing water, although it can be found in deeper, slow-moving stretch…
Aquarium size
Suitable only for public installations or the very largest, highly-specialised private aquaria.
Maintenance
A large, mature filter system, rigorous maintenance regime comprising weekly water changes of 50-70% tank volume, and provision of highly-oxygenated water with…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Mekongina species are specialised grazers of periphyton, benthic algae, and other organisms which grow attached to submerged solid surfaces. They are by no mea…
Behaviour and compatibility
This species can be belligerent and aggressively territorial towards conspecifics and similarly-shaped fishes, especially when space is limited.
Sexual dimorphism
Sexually mature females are likely to be deeper-bodied and may grow larger than males.
Reproduction
Breeds at the onset of the wet season in nature. Adults spawn in upland rivers and the juveniles migrate down to the main Mekong channel to forage, before migr…
Notes
M. erythrospila is occasionally in the ornamental trade but is unsuitable for the majority of private aquaria given its adult size. It can be told apart from i…
References
References
7 on this profile