Edit Pethia manipurensis

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Name

Scientific name

Pethia manipurensis

Described by

Authority Menon, Rema Devi & Vishwanath, Year 2000, Bracketed

Family

Cyprinidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 8 credited

Summary

Pethia manipurensis is a small cyprinid apparently endemic to Loktak Lake in Bishnupur District, Manipur state, northeastern India. The spe…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

62mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 80 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 18–25°C, pH 5.5–7.5

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

India, Loktak Lake

Writing

Etymology

Pethia: the generic vernacular name for small cyprinids in the Sinhala language. manipurensis: named for Manipur state, India, to which this species is endemic.

Distribution

Described from and apparently endemic to Loktak Lake in Bishnupur District, Manipur state, northeastern India, with no additional populations discovered to dat…

Habitat

Loktak lake is the largest lake in northeast India and heavily exploited for drinking water, while water quality is declining due to eutrophication and siltati…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of at least 80 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent are required.

Maintenance

Choice of décor is not especially critical though it tends to show better colouration in a heavily-planted set-up with a dark substrate. The addition of some f…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Wild fish are probably foragers feeding on diatoms, algae, organic detritus, small insects, worms, crustaceans, and other zooplankton. In the aquarium it's eas…

Behaviour and compatibility

Generally very peaceful making it an ideal resident of the well-researched community aquarium. As it places no special demands in terms of water chemistry it c…

Sexual dimorphism

Adult males are noticeably smaller, slimmer, and more colourful than females, especially during the spawning season, and possess dark markings in the dorsal-fi…

Reproduction

Like most small cyprinids Pethia spp. are egg-scattering free spawners exhibiting no parental care. When in good condition they will spawn often and in a matur…

Like most small cyprinids Pethia spp. are egg-scattering free spawners exhibiting no parental care.

When in good condition they will spawn often and in a mature aquarium it's possible that small numbers of fry may start to appear without intervention.

However if you want to maximise yield a more controlled approach is required.

The adult group can still be conditioned together but a smaller aquarium should also be set up and filled with mature water.

This should be very dimly lit and the base covered with some kind of mesh of a large enough grade so that the eggs can fall through but small enough so that the adults cannot reach them. The widely available plastic 'grass'-type matting can also be used and works well, as does a layer of glass marbles.

Alternatively filling much of the tank with a fine-leaved plant such as Taxiphyllum spp. or spawning mops can also return decent results.

The water itself should be of slightly acidic to neutral pH with a temperature towards the upper end of the range suggested above. An air-powered sponge filter or air stone(s) should also be included to provide oxygenation and water movement.

When the adults are well-conditioned and the females appear gravid one or two pairs should then be introduced, and spawning should take place the following morning.

An alternative is to spawn the fish in a group with half a dozen specimens of each sex being a good number, although a larger aquarium may be necessary.

In either situation the adults will probably eat the eggs given the chance and should be removed as soon as any are noticed.

These should hatch in 24 - 48 hours with the fry free swimming around 24 hours later.

They should be fed on an infusoria-grade food for the first few days until large enough to accept microworm, Artemia nauplii, or suchlike.

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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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Notes

This species is not well known in the aquarium hobby and only available outside India on occasion. It was formerly included in the Puntius conchonius 'group' o…

References

8 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