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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…

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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