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Kottelatlimia hipporhynchos
Kottelat & Tan, 2008
Max length52mm SL2.0in SLTank60 × 30cm24 × 12inTemp23–26°C73–79°FpH4.0–6.5This species differs from congeners in the presence of papillae covering the mouthparts (lips, barbels, and lobes) which are absent in other species. It's also the largest species in the genus and the serrae on the second pectoral fin rays in males form a broa...

Kottelatlimia katik
Kottelat & Lim, 1992
Max length14mm SL0.6in SLTank45 × 30cm18 × 12inTemp23–26°C73–79°FpH3.5–6.5We're unaware of this species having yet appeared in the aquarium trade although a few private collectors have experience with it. Among congeners it uniquely possesses a simple suborbital spine and further differs from K. pristes by: smaller adult size (13.5 mm SL vs. 40); presence of a long nasal barbel (vs. absence); anatomy of the modified second pectoral ray in males (6-7 fine, narrow serrae vs. 8-11 pointed, anteriorly-orientated serrae). In K. hipporhynchos the serrae on the second pectoral ray in males form a broad, contiguous blade-like structure but other differences are the same as for K. pristes.

Kottelatlimia pristes
Roberts, 1989
Max length40mm SL1.6in SLTank45 × 30cm18 × 12inTemp21–26°C70–79°FpH3.5–6.5The genus Kottelatlimia was erected by Nalbant (1994) to accommodate K. katik which had previously been assigned to Lepidocephalichthys but differs in various aspects noted earlier by Kottelat and Lim (1992) including: relatively small adult size; scaleless...

Kryptopterus bicirrhis
Valenciennes, 1840
Max length150mm SL6in SLTank120 × 45cm48 × 18inTemp20–28°C68–82°FpH6.0–7.5Generally 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.

Kryptopterus cryptopterusBlue Sheatfish
Bleeker, 1851
Max length147mm SL6in SLTank120 × 45cm48 × 18inTemp20–27°C68–81°FpH6.0–7.5Known from the Malay Peninsula and Singapore plus Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java in Indonesia with populati0ns from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam formerly considered as conspecific now referred to K. geminus (Ng, 2003). Type locality is given as 'Bandjarmassing' which corresponds to a town now more commonly referred to as 'Banjarmasin' in South Kalimantan (Kalimantan Selatan) province, Indonesia (Borneo).

Kryptopterus geminus
Ng, 2003
Max length171mm SL7in SLTank150 × 45cm60 × 18inTemp20–28°C68–82°FpH6.0–7.5This 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...

Kryptopterus limpok
Bleeker, 1852
Max length260mm SL10in SLTank240 × 60cm96 × 24inTemp20–28°C68–82°FpH6.0–7.5Type locality is 'Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia', but this species is widely-distributed throughout much of Southeast Asia including major river systems in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia plus the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java. It's been extensively recorded from the Mekong, Cha...

Kryptopterus macrocephalusStriped Glass Catfish
Bleeker, 1858
Max length100mm SL3.9in SLTank120 × 30cm48 × 12inTemp20–26°C68–79°FpH4.0–7.0Has been recorded in fast-flowing environments but most commonly associated with peat swamp forests and associated blackwater streams. Many such habitats have suffered degradation of some kind but in unaltered cases the dense canopy of branches above means very little light penetrates the surface of such environments, and riparian vegetation also tends to grow thickly.

Kryptopterus palembangensis
Bleeker, 1852
Max length140mm SL6in SLTank120 × 30cm48 × 12inTemp20–28°C68–82°FpH6.0–7.5This species is almost unheard of in the aquarium trade though may occasionally be exported among shipments of wild fishes from Sumatra. It's closely-related to K. bichirris but is told apart by presence (vs. absence) of a prominent, dark lateral stripe on each flank. Kryptopterus species are found only in Southeast Asia and the genus has been consi...

Kryptopterus vitreolusGlass Catfish
Ng & Kottelat, 2013
Max length65mm SL2.6in SLTank90 × 30cm36 × 12inTemp20–26°C68–79°FpH4.0–7.0This species has been available in the trade for decades during which time it's been widely misidentified as the valid congeners K. bicirrhis or, more recently, K. minor. Its identity was not resolved until early 2013 meaning you will find it under one of these two names in the majority of literature published prior to that date. Other trade names include 'Asia...

Labeo angra
Hamilton, 1822
Max length200mm SL8in SLTanknot recordedTempnot recordedpHnot recordedThis species can be identified by colour pattern comprising a brownish dorsal surface, yellowish flanks and abdomen, and a black to bluish lateral stripe extending from the eye to the caudal-fin base.

Labeo bogaViolet Shark
Hamilton, 1822
Max length250mm SL10in SLTank240 × 60cm96 × 24inTemp18–24°C64–75°FpH6.0–8.0Despite its unsuitability for the majority of home aquaria, this species is available in the aquarium trade on an irregular basis, and has also been marketed as 'violet-gilled shark', 'red-gilled violet shark' and 'blushing violet shark'. It appears likely that L. boga as currently recognised represents a complex of closely-related species.

Labeo calbasuOrangefin Labeo
Hamilton, 1822
Max length800mm SL31in SLTanknot recordedTempnot recordedpHnot recordedThis species is extremely widespread and has been recorded from Pakistan, Nepal, most of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and southern China. Type locality is 'Bengal and western provinces, India'.

Labeo chrysophekadionBlack Shark
Bleeker, 1849
Max length600mm SL24in SLTanknot recordedTemp20–26°C68–79°FpH6.0–8.0L. 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...

Labeo cyclorhynchusHarlequin Shark
authority not recorded
Max length160mm SL6in SLTanknot recordedTemp21–27°C70–81°FpH6.0–7.5L. cyclorhynchus was described twice in the space of two years, with Pellegrin erecting Labeo variegatus for it in 1901. Although the invalidity of the variegatus name is quite well-documented you may still see the species named as such in older literature, trade lists and by some websites. It's also worth noting that the attractive patterning seen in young fish does fade with age, the adults being much darker in colour. The genus Labeo currently contains over 100 species but is in dire ...

Labeo pierrei
Sauvage, 1880
Max length800mm SL31in SLTanknot recordedTempnot recordedpHnot recordedThis 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.

Labeotropheus fuelleborniFuelleborn's Cichlid
authority not recorded
Max length175mm SL7in SLTank90 × 45cm36 × 18inTemp24–28°C75–82°FpH7.6–8.8This species has the characteristic overhanging snout possessed by all three members of the genus. It has chisel-shaped teeth which are designed for grazing algae off rocks. These physical adaptations allow it to graze algae from rocks situated in very shallow water which other species cannot reach. The position of the mouth allows the fish to remain parallel to the rock surfaces, thus enabling it to cope with the turbulence in these areas. L. fuelleborni exists in many different colour forms in...

Labeotropheus trewavasaeTrewavas' Cichlid
authority not recorded
Max length113mm SL4in SLTank90 × 45cm36 × 18inTemp24–28°C75–82°FpH7.6–8.8This species has the characteristic overhanging snout possessed by all three members of the genus. It also has chisel-shaped teeth which are designed for scraping algae off rocks. These physical adaptations give it a competitive advantage, as they allow it to graze from rocks situated in very shallow water which other species cannot reach. The position of the mouth allows the fish to remain parallel to the rock surfaces, thus enabling it to cope with the turbulence in these areas. L. trewava...

Labidochromis caeruleusCaeruleus
authority not recorded
Max length100mm SL3.9in SLTank90 × 45cm36 × 18inTemp24–28°C75–82°FpH7.7–8.6This species is one of the most popular Rift Lake cichlids in the hobby, due to its striking colouration and somewhat peaceful (for a mbuna) nature. It exists in many different colour forms in nature, and the ubiquitous "electric yellow" morph, so popular in the hobby, is actually one of the rarer forms in nature, with the blue and white variety being more widespread. Wild fish are correspondingly rare in the hobby, with the vast majority of specimens offered for sale being tank-bred. ...

Labidochromis sp. "perlmutt"Pearly Labidochromis
authority not recorded
Max length100mm SL3.9in SLTank90 × 45cm36 × 18inTemp24–28°C75–82°FpH7.5–8.5This 'species' was only discovered in 1995, and remains undescribed to science. The common name 'perlmutt' is the German word for 'mother of pearl', and refers to the beautiful pearly white colouration of adult fish. It's sometimes sold with the alternative trade name of Labidochromis sp. 'yellow bar'. Konings has hypothesised that the Mbamba Bay Island population so closely resembles L. caeruleus that it may turn out to be a geographical variant o...