Edit Pethia nigripinnis

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Name

Scientific name

Pethia nigripinnis

Described by

Authority Knight, Rema Devi, Indra & Arunachalam, Year 2012, Bracketed

Family

Cyprinidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 5 credited

Summary

Pethia nigripinnis is a small cyprinid of cool, flowing hill streams in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, apparently endemic to the southern Western G…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

45mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 90 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 16–21°C, pH 5.5–7.5

Hardness

2–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

India, Kabini, Moyar

Writing

Etymology

Pethia: the generic vernacular name for small cyprinids in the Sinhala language. nigripinnis: from the Latin niger, meaning 'black', and pinna, meaning 'fins',…

Distribution

Type locality is Kalindhi stream, a tributary of the Kabini River in Wayanad District, Kerala state, southwestern India, with an additional population known fr…

Habitat

Inhabits cool, flowing hill streams. Such headwaters are typically well-oxygenated with clear water, substrates comprising gravel, rocks, boulders and patches …

Inhabits cool, flowing hill streams. Such headwaters are typically well-oxygenated with clear water, substrates comprising gravel, rocks, boulders and patches of leaf litter, with a rich biofilm carpeting solid surfaces.

Habitats are likely to vary depending on locality and time of year with two annual monsoons causing increases in water depth, flow and turbidity in many rivers draining the Western Ghats.

At one locality in the Kalindhi drainage the water was clear, 1 m at its deepest point and flowing either side of a small check dam, below which the flow was stronger though still not particularly fast.

The substrate was composed of rocks and cobbles with a thick layer of fine silt and sand above the dam.

There were no aquatic plants but marginal grasses and shrubs were growing to the margins with some submerged roots protruding into the water.

No specimens of P. nigripinnis were collected in the faster flow below the dam, and males were observed to form small territories rather than schooling together.

Sympatric species were Haludaria fasciata, Pethia conchonius, Puntius bimaculatus, Opsarius gatensis, Danio rerio, Salmostoma acinaces, Mesonoemacheilus guentheri, Mystus montanus, Bhavania australis, Channa gachua, Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, and Aplocheilus lineatus.

At a second locality the habitat comprised a small creek flowing through heavy woodland. The water was again shallow and substrate composed of cobbles, silt, and leaf litter.

Aquatic vegetation was absent though there were some submerged root tangles along the banks and overhanging bamboo fronds, while the water was several degrees cooler than the air.

Males were again collected singly and formed small territories among the roots and leaf litter, while females were observed to form small groups of 2-3 individuals.

Other species collected were Pethia conchonius, Longischistura striata, Channa gachua, and Aplocheilus lineatus.

Thanks to Rahul Kumar.

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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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Aquarium size

Base dimensions of at least 90 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent are required with larger quarters required if you wish to keep more than a single male (see 'Behaviour and…

Maintenance

Displays its best colouration under dim lighting and should look particularly effective in a heavily-planted arrangement with a darkish substrate, or a set-up …

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

Relatively peaceful but unlikely to make an good choice for the general community aquarium due to its preference for cooler temperatures. It will probably do b…

Sexual dimorphism

Adult males are noticeably slimmer than females and significantly more colourful, especially during the spawning season. When in good condition the dorsal, ven…

Reproduction

Not yet achieved in aquaria as far as we know, but notes for related species are as follows: Like most small cyprinids Pethia spp. are egg-scattering free spaw…

Notes

This species is not currently in the aquarium trade but has been maintained by a handful of private collectors. It was formerly included in the Puntius conchon…

References

6 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