Tonlé Sap

B. aurotaeniatus is uncommon in the aquarium trade. Following Kottelat (1998) it has a single pair of maxillary barbels, a complete lateral line and colour pattern usually comprising four small, vertically-orientated black markings on the flanks (located above anterior lateral line origin, below dorsal-fin origin, below posterior end of dorsal-fin base and on caudal peduncle, respectively) and one on the dorsal surface, below dorsal-fin origin.

This is one of two species sold with the common/trade name of "tinfoil barb", the other being the more widely-recognised B. schwanenfeldii. Despite this it appears that B. altus is just as widely available as B. schwanenfeldii and in many cases is seen on sale more regularly. Unfortunately both are usually offered at a small size (usually around 2 - 3"/5 - 7.5cm) with little to no information regarding the eventual size of the fish. Although B. altus is the ...

This is one of two species traded under the vernacular name 'tinfoil barb', the other being the less well-known congener B. altus. Despite this it appears that B. altus is just as widely available as B. schwanefeldii and in many cases is seen on sale more regularly. Unfortunately both are usually offered at a small size (usually around 50 - 75 mm) with little to no information regarding the eventual size of the fish.

Apparently restricted to slow-moving or standing freshwater habitats such as marshes, temporal swamps and floodplains where aquatic vegetation and submerged grasses proliferate. One locality consisted of undisturbed marshland with lightly tannin-stained water and dense growth of Vallisneria spp.

Known from the lower Mekong basin in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, the Chao Phraya watershed in central Thailand, and may occur in smaller river systems between. Type locality is 'Thu-dâu-môt, Vietnam'.

Prefers a dimly-lit aquarium with plenty of cover in the form of live plants, driftwood branches, terracotta pipes, plant pots, etc., arranged to form a network of nooks, crannies, and shaded spots. Surface vegetation such as Ceratopteris spp. is also appreciated and makes the fish less inclined to conceal themselves.

While some laterally-striped members of the genus look very similar to one another the combination of silvery body, dark-edged scales and dark caudal peduncle blotch set C. reticulatus uniquely apart. The names Crossocheilus tchangi, Epalzeorhynchos coatesi and E. stigmaeus are all now considered synonyms of the species but were erected because the fish vary, most often in minor aspects of patt...

In the aquarium trade this species may also be seen on sale as 'skinhead barb'. As with others in the genus little has been written regarding its captive care but it makes a peaceful and unusual addition to larger aquaria. The best way of obtaining it may be to keep an eye on shipments of wild fishes from Indochina and the Greater Sunda Islands as it's rarely imported in large numbers and most often arrives as bycatch.

This species is currently understood to have a considerable natural range extending eastwards from Myanmar via Thailand, Laos, Cambodia as far as Vietnam and to the south through Peninsular Malaysia and into the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It thus occurs in the Mekong, Mae Klong and Chao Phraya drainages as well as a host of other river basins, lakes and reservoirs including the Tonlé Sap river...

The ornamental albino variant is widely-available and has become extremely popular in the hobby and there is a commercially-produced anerythristic (lacking red pigment) mutation that has pale yellowish fins and has sometimes been misidentified as E. munense. Also worthy of note is that the specific name is sometimes misspelled 'frenatus'. Most members of Epalzeorhynchos were formerly regarded as Labeo spp. and are thus referred to as such in older literature. According to Rainboth (1996) they're characterised by absence of a dorsal spine...

This species does not appear to be in the aquarium hobby at time of writing though it may have been in the past, when exports of wild Epalzeorhynchos spp. still took place. Most members of the genus were formerly regarded as Labeo spp. and are thus referred to as such in older literature. According to Rainboth (1996) they're characterised by absence of a dorsal spine, possession of 10-13 branched dorsal fin rays, a thin membrane...

Known from the Mekong river basin in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the Tonlé Sap river and lake system in Cambodia, and smaller, coastal drainages in southeast Thailand. Records from Peninsular Malaysia are likely to refer to other species. Type locality is given simply as 'Cambodia'.

There currently exist a dozen described Esomus spp. alhough few are seen in the aquarium trade and none are especially popular. Most are commonplace in their native countries and also quite plainly-patterned so generally overlooked by collectors. Their most common use in some areas is actually as a feeder fish in the aquaculture of larger species. They're characterised by greatly-enlarged pectoral fins and two pairs of barbels, of which the maxillary pair are extremely long and usually reach the pectoral fins.

Also known by the vernacular names ''black band garra', 'stone-lapping minnow' or 'false flying fox' and continues to be traded as Garra taeniata, an invalid name synonymous with G. cambodgiensis. It is often confused with those laterally-striped members of the genus Crossocheilus sold as 'Siamese algae eater' or 'Siamese flying fox', but in those species the dark lateral body stripe continues into the caudal-fin whereas in G. cambodgiensis it terminates...

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.

This species is among the most well-known fishes in the aquarium trade but juveniles are typically being offered for sale with little to no information regarding temperament, eventual size, and potential age in excess of 15 years. Wild examples are not currently traded, with all of those seen on sale produced on a commercial basis.

Generally peaceful though it may predate on smaller fishes and is somewhat timid so does not compete well with much larger, robust or otherwise boisterous species. Peaceful, comparably-sized cyprinids, loaches and other catfishes perhaps constitute the best options but be sure to research your choices thoroughly prior to purchase.

This species is likely to be traded for aquaria but probably misidentified as the very similar-looking K. cyrptopterus with which wild populations were formerly considered conspecific. These two are closely-related and can be distinguished from congeners by the dorsal profile lacking a nuchal concavity (vs. possessing a nuchal concavity) and possessing short maxillary barbels (extending to the pectoral-fin base vs. ext...

Considered synonymous with the congener L. laubuca for a number of years, thus reports of that species from anywhere in Indochina actually refer to the current concept of L. siamensis. Given the distribution of L. siamensis, it seems likely that many of the fish entering the aquarium trade are also this species and not L. laubuca. The two species can be distinguished by...

At one locality close to Ban Na Hwai, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand L. hasselti was collected from a shallow (<0.5 m) pool in a swampy zone between forest and rice fields. The substrate was of mud, there was no aquatic vegetation and it was being used as drinking water by local animals, with the only effluent connected to a 'small creek'. Other species found there were Physoschistura pseudobrunneana, Rasbora hobelmani and Systomus cf. orphoides.

The majority of Lobocheilos species are endemic to the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java, and are uncommon in the aquarium trade, but the widespread Indochinese taxa L. melanotaenia and L. rhabdoura are available on a sporadic basis. L. melanotaenia can be distinguished from L. rhabdoura by the following comb...

L. bleekeri is most-easily distinguished from the congener L. setigerum, with which it is frequently confused, by absence (vs. presence) of a series of black spots on the lateral line scales.

There is a fish of unknown geographical origin which matches the majority of diagnostic features for L. setigerum with the exception that the dark lateral stripe is absent in the anterior portion of the body and is not composed of interconnected spots. It is relatively common in the aquarium trade and included here as L. cf. setigerum until a confirmed identity is established.

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...

The genus Puntius is currently viewed as something of a catch-all for well over 100 species of small to mid-sized cyprinid. Most experts agree that a full revision is required with the likely outcome that many species will be placed into new or different genera since it is clearly polyphyletic. When describing the grouping in 1822 Hamilton identified the defining characteristics as: presence or absence o...

Known from the lower Mekong River basin in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, plus tributaries of the Chao Phraya watershed in central Thailand, and drainages between the Chao Phraya and Mekong in eastern Thailand. Type locality is 'Nam-Mun at Korat, 135 miles northeast of Bangkok, Thailand'.

C. micropeltes is also referred to as 'Indonesian', 'red', or 'redline' snakehead, the latter names in reference to the appearance of juveniles which often appear in the ornamental trade despite its unsuitability for home aquaria. It is somewhat hyperbolised in the media as a fearsome, invasive "monster" fish with a reputation for killing more fish than it can eat, and even the occasional human, although in reality...

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.

In the Mekong, it has been observed to migrate upstream from Phnom Penh to Khone Falls between November and February, returning downstream between May and August. The downstream migration ends in the Mekong delta area in Vietnam, where the fish remain until the floods reach their peak in October and November. These lower Mekong migrations mostly comprise juveniles and sub-adults, whereas above Khone Falls...

The massive decline in wild populations, hypothesised to be in excess of 90% since the mid-1980s, is thought to have been caused by a variety of factors, including habitat alteration due to construction of dams and other infrastructure, removal of riparian vegetation, and urban pollution, plus over fishing for both human consumption and the aquarium trade.

This species is also known by the vernacular 'jungle perch' or 'sidebar barb' and should not be considered an aquarium subject in all but the most extreme circumstances since it can grow to over 2 feet in length, weigh in excess of 5 kg and is a powerful, pelagic predator. It's also a popular sport fish with a reputation for striking hard.

Juvenile specimens are sometimes available in the aquarium trade although their purchase is strongly discouraged, and this species probably shouldn't be considered a home aquarium subject at all given its eventual size plus the fact it can live for several decades. H. wyckioides can be told apart from mos...

L. chrysophekadion is also known as 'black sharkminnow'. It continues to be available in the ornamental trade despite its patent unsuitability for the home aquarium, and an albino form has been selectively bred for the purpose. It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination...

It is thought to have been extirpated from the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong rivers, Lake Songkhla, and the entire island of Java due to a variety of anthropogenic factors, and the Mekong populations have also been drastically reduced. In particular, it is sensitive to pollution and gillnetting, and is heavily overfished.

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 ornamental hobby given its adult size and specialised requirements. It is sometimes confused with the African species Xenomystus nigri but is easily told apart by its larger adult size and presence (vs. absence) of a dorsal fin.

P. apogon has formerly been placed within the genera Kryptopterus, Micronema (Rainboth, 1996) and more recently Phalacronotus (Ferraris, 2007) and is an important food fish across much of its native range. It's very similar to P. micronema but can be told apart by its longer head (HL fits 4.6± 5.3 times in...

Native to the Mekong River drainage in Laos (where Vientiane province represents the upper limit of its range), Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and the Tapi, Chao Phraya, and Mae Klong systems in Thailand. Type locality is '22 kilometers upstream from Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap River, Kandal Province, Cambodia'.

G. lobatus can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: possession of 32-33 + 2-3 lateral line scales; 5½ scale rows between lateral line and base of dorsal-fin; body relatively slender, depth fits 3.7-4.0 times in SL; snout often projecting strongly; body plain silver in colour.

G. ornatapinnis can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: head small; snout relatively short and blunt; caudal peduncle very deep; pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins usually reddish-orange or rose-tinted; pelvic and anal fins often with white tips; barbels completely absent.

G. siamensis can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: possession of 5½ lateral line scales; body relatively deep, depth fits 3.2-3.4 times in SL; head large and broad, width fits 5.5-6.7 times in SL; snout not or only weakly projecting; body plain silver in colour with no dark marking on caudal peduncle.

This species can be distinguished by the following characters: juveniles with brown body and dark marking at base of caudal-fin; 37-42 + 3-4 lateral line scales; 11½ branched dorsal-fin rays; 7½ scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 20-25 predorsal scales; dorsal-fin relatively small with anterior branched rays shorter than head in juveniles, slightly longer than head in adults.