Edit Nemacheilus platiceps

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Name

Scientific name

Nemacheilus platiceps

Described by

Authority Kottelat, Year 1990

Family

Nemacheilidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 4 credited

Summary

Nemacheilus platiceps is a nemacheilid loach native to the Mekong basin in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and the Dong Nai system. I…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

61mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 23–26°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

2–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Dong Nai, Mekong

Writing

Etymology

Nemacheilus: from the Greek nēma, meaning 'thread' or 'filament' and cheilos, meaning 'lip' in reference to the furrowed lip in members of this genus.

Distribution

Native to the Mekong river basin in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and also known from the Dong Nai system in southern Vietnam. Beamish et al. (2008) rec…

Habitat

Has been collected from shallow, slow-moving pools of hill streams where leaf litter collects and moderately to fast-flowing habitats with gravel substrate. Fl…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with a base measuring 60 ∗ 30 cm or more is recommended.

Maintenance

Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions; we strongly recommend keeping it in a tank designed to resemble a flowing stream or river with a substr…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Nemacheilus species are omnivorous although the bulk of their diet consists of small insects, worms, crustaceans and other zooplankton with only relatively sma…

Behaviour and compatibility

Fishes which inhabit similar biotopes in nature constitute the best options, especially peaceful, open water-dwelling cyprinids since the presence of one or tw…

Sexual dimorphism

Adult females are likely to be slightly larger and heavier-bodied than males. Mature males possess a superficial suborbital flap.

Reproduction

Unrecorded.

Notes

This species is only occasionally available in the aquarium trade. It's distinguished from congeners by a combination of characters including: 12-16 dark, irre…

This species is only occasionally available in the aquarium trade.

It's distinguished from congeners by a combination of characters including: 12-16 dark, irregular, vertical bars on body, usually split vertically; lips without furrows; incomplete lateral line, reaching to anus; subequal (almost equal) caudal-fin lobes; dark blotch in lower half of caudal-fin base.

Kottelat (1990) found that in Cambodian specimens the body bars are more regular and only tend to be split in large adults.

Following Kottelat (1990) the genus Nemacheilus is characterised by a combination of characters as follows: elongate body; complete lateral line; presence of enlarged scales above and below the lateral line in some species; caudal-fin forked to deeply forked with enlarged upper lobe; large eye; small, strongly arched mouth; lips usually thin; usually no median interruption in upper lip; upper jaw with processus dentiformis (a tooth-like projection); no median notch in lower jaw; long barbels; males usually with suborbital flap, pectoral-fin rays 2-6 thickened and with rows of tubercules.

The family Nemacheilidae is widely-distributed across most of Eurasia with the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China representing particular centres of species diversity.

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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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Year

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References

10 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