Seriously Fish
AdminAccount
AdminAccount

River

Nam Theun

10 profiles across 5 families name the Nam Theun as a locality.

Species
10
Families
5
Photographed
10 of 10
Difficulty rated
10 of 10

Basin

Also in the Mekong basinspecies recorded from both

Shares fishes with rivers elsewherespecies recorded from both

Runs through

Specimen from the German aquarium trade imported as C. gachua 'Assam'.

Channa gachuaDwarf Snakehead

Channidae · Hamilton, 1822

Max length
200mm SL8in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
18–28°C64–82°F
pH
5.0–8.0

Generally considered to have an enormous natural range extending from Iran to Taiwan and Bali, with records existing from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. However there exists significant evidence to suggest that C. gachua as currently understood represents a complex of similar-looking species, and a taxonomic review of the group is clearly required.

Easy
Specimen from Thailand.

Garra fasciacauda

Cyprinidae · Fowler, 1937

Max length
110mm SL4in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
6.0–8.0

Native to the Mekong river system in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, including the Tonlé Sap basin. Type locality is 'Kemarat, Thailand', which corresponds to the Mekoong River in Khemmarat district, Ubon Ratchathani province, northeastern Thailand.

Easy
Specimen from Thailand.

Hypsibarbus vernayi

Cyprinidae · Norman, 1925

Max length
216mm SL9in SL
Tank
240 × 60cm96 × 24in
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
6.0–8.0

It is very similar to H. wetmorei but can be told apart by possessing yellow (vs. orange to red in H. wetmorei) pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins. It thus appears likely that yellow-finned fish marketed as H. wetmorei or 'lemon fin barb' in the ornamental trade are actually H. vernayi, with both species available on a regular basis.

Moderate
Specimen from Thailand.

Mystacoleucus greenwayi

Cyprinidae · Pellegrin & Fang, 1940

Max length
100mm SL3.9in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
20–27°C68–81°F
pH
6.0–7.5

Predominantly a riverine fish favouring clear, well-oxygenated, running water with substrates of sand or gravel and often present in rock and boulder-filled headwater streams. In the Mun River, close to the Pak Mun dam, Thailand, sympatric species included Hampala dispar, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, Osteochilus hasseltii,...

Easy
Adult male specimen with nuptial colour pattern and breeding tubercules on head.

Opsarius pulchellus

Cyprinidae · Smith, 1931

Max length
110mm SL4in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–7.5

This species is traded for aquaria under various names including 'butterfly barb', 'mackerel barb', 'green-barred danio', and 'royal opsarius'. It can be told apart from other memb...

Moderate
Adult male specimen.

Oryzias mekongensisMekong Ricefish

Adrianichthyidae · Uwa & Magtoon, 1986

Max length
21mm SL0.8in SL
Tank
40 × 20cm16 × 8in
Temp
23–27°C73–81°F
pH
6.0–7.5

It can be further distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: small adult size; bright orange-red marginal bands on caudal-fin lobes in males; caudal-fin rounded and elongate; 5-7 dorsal-fin rays; relatively few (13-18) anal-fin rays without bony contact organs, the last ray branched; 6-8 pectoral-fin rays. Members of the family Adrianichthyidae are...

Easy
Adult male.

Trichopsis pumilaSparkling Gourami

Osphronemidae · Arnold, 1936

Max length
40mm SL1.6in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
22–28°C72–82°F
pH
5.0–7.5

It can be distinguished from congeners by its small adult size and presence of a single solid dark midlateral stripe on the body, above which is a series of dark blotches forming a second stripe. In the similar but larger, T. schalleri the upper stripe is more variable depending on the mood of the fish, sometimes fading entirely.

Beginner
This species can be told apart from congeners by its distinctive colour pattern.

Chitala blanciRoyal Featherback

Notopteridae · d'Aubenton, 1965

Max length
1200mm SL47in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
20–28°C68–82°F
pH
6.0–8.0

This species is also referred to as 'royal knifefish' in the aquarium trade but arguably has no place in the ornamental hobby given its adult size and specialised requirements. It can be distinguished from congeners by presence of many small, dark spots on the anterior portion of the body which merge to form oblique, irregular stripes extending onto the anal and caudal fins posteriorly.

Moderate
1 field missing
Specimen measuring 230 mm SL from Kratie province, northeast Cambodia.

Mekongina erythrospila

Cyprinidae · Fowler, 1937

Max length
450mm SL18in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
6.0–8.0

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 north to Kratie province, Cambodia in the south, and it occurs in several important tributary systems including the Sesan, Srepok, and Tonlé Sap. Type locality is 'Mekong River at Kemarat, Thailand'.

Moderate
1 field missing
Specimen from the Nan River, Nan province, northern Thailand.

Garra theunensis

Cyprinidae · Kottelat, 1998

Max length
300mm SL12in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
not recorded
pH
not recorded

This species can be distinguished from congeners in Southeast Asia and China by the following combination of characters: plain brown body and fins, sometimes with 6-8 narrow, faintly distinct, longitudinal stripes; snout triangular in dorsal view, with small tubercules and without transverse groove...

Moderate
3 fields missing