Edit Notopterus notopterus
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Name
Scientific name
Notopterus notopterus
Described by
Authority Pallas, Year 1769, Bracketed
Family
Notopteridae
Common names
Bronze Featherback
Photograph credits
All 3 credited
Summary
The bronze featherback, Notopterus notopterus, is an air-breathing notopterid from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Also called …
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
600mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–28°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
2–15dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
Solitary or specimen
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Java, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Ayeyarwady, Batang Hari, Bhima, Brahmaputra, Byanda, Chao Phraya, Chindwin, Dibru, Endau, Ganges, Indus, Kaveri, Krishna, Lake Inle, Mae Klong, Mahanadi, Mekong, Mutha Mula, Myittha, Perak, Salween, Sittaung, Tonlé Sap, Tungabhadra, Yamuna
Writing
Etymology
Notopterus: from the Ancient Greek νῶτον (nôton), meaning 'back', and πτερόν (pterón), meaning 'wing, feather', in reference to the small, quill-like dorsal fi…
Distribution
Currently accepted to occur throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia with extensive records from Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos…
Habitat
Inhabits lower parts of rivers and tributaries, swamps, floodplains, and lakes, including some man-made dams to which it seems well-adaptable. Moves into areas…
Aquarium size
Suitable only for public installations or the very largest, highly-specialised private aquaria.
Maintenance
Prefers dim lighting and access to refuges in the form of driftwood, large rocks or lengths of plastic piping. A large, mature filter system, rigorous maintena…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
An obligate, typically nocturnal, predator feeding on smaller fishes, crustaceans and other invertebrates in nature but in most cases adapting well to dead alt…
Behaviour and compatibility
Relatively peaceful with fishes too large to be considered prey but can be territorial with conspecifics and other similarly-shaped species, especially if spac…
Sexual dimorphism
Unreported.
Reproduction
Unrecorded in aquaria. Wild fish have been observed depositing eggs among submerged vegetation in areas of flooded forest during the wet season.
Notes
This species is also referred to as 'Asian knifefish' or 'ghost knifefish' in the aquarium trade in the aquarium trade but arguably has no place in the ornamen…
References
References
9 on this profile