Hara jerdoni

India, Bangladesh.

Inhabits slow-moving streams and small rivers. It's preferred habitats are characterised by soft substrates.

30 ∗ 20 ∗ 20 cm12 ∗ 8 ∗ 8 in - ~12 litres~3 US gal. Not only is this species tiny, it's also very inactive, and so doesn't need much room. If keeping it in a very small tank you must pay extreme care to water parameters (see below).

Provide as many hiding places as possible, along with a soft, sandy substrate. The addition of some dried beech or oak leaves and pieces of driftwood would simulate the natural habitat of the fish nicely. The water must be kept clean, relatively cool and well-oxygenated or the fish will suffer as its natural waters are high in dissolved oxygen.

Temperature: 18 – 24 °C64 – 75 °F

pH: 5.6-7.6

Hardness: 8-15°H

It will accept most small foods, including dried pellets, but should be offered a diet composed mainly of live and frozen varieties, such as bloodworm, daphnia etc. It's strictly a noctunal feeder so add food after lights out to ensure it gets its share.

A very peaceful little cat that fits well into communities of other small species, or into a biotope setup with other Asian stream-dwelling species, such as Dario sp. and danios. Don't keep it with any active bottom-dwelling species or it will be out-competed for food easily. It can be kept with others of its own kind without any problems, and in fact prefers to be kept in a group.

Unknown. It is likely that females will appear broader than males when full of eggs.

Has been bred in aquaria, but unfortunately very few details are available. Apparently the eggs were deposited in spawning mops.

This delightful little species can be distinguished from others in the genus by its elongated pectoral spines. It, and others in the genus (and also the closely related genus Erithistes), also go by the common name of moth catfish due to their patterning and shape when viewed from above.