Has 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.

This species is not recommended to those lacking the facilities to house it for life. Sadly it’s all too often seen for sale as an attractive, silvery 2-3″ juvenile, supposedly suitable for the general freshwater community tank. To make matters worse, it is also usually given an ‘alluring’ name such as ‘black-finned’ or ‘silvertip’ shark catfish. The fate of the majority of these specimens is in all likelihood a depressing one.

This species has been exported for the aquarium hobby and ranks among the smaller members of the family. It can be differentiated from all other Akysis species by the following combination of characters: head length 22.0-28.6% of standard length (SL); caudal peduncle depth 8.8-10.7% of SL; anal-fin base length 15.2-19.1% of SL; eye diameter 12-16% of head length (HL); nasal barbel length 57 92% of HL; posession of 3-4 serrae on the posterior edge ofspine; body patterning mottled with indistinct …

This is the most commonly-encountered representative of the genus in the aquatic trade though is by no means common. As in other members of the genus body colouration is highly variable, even among individuals collected from a single locality, although a few useful regularities have been observed which can be used to distinguish certain species. This is thought related to the fact that Acrochordonichthys spp. periodically shed their skins and appear paler post-moulting.

A. rugosus lends its …

Members of the genus Batasio are characterised by the following combination of characters; laterally-compressed body shape; presence of large sensory pores on the head; a narrow mental region; a pair of prominent posterior processes on the anterior portion of the vomer; a transversely elongated, bar-like entopterygoid; close contact between the metapterygoid and quadrate.

The vernacular name ‘lancer’ is derived from the extended dorsal spine possessed by several members of the genus, which currently contains 7 species. Among them B. macracanthus is most similar to B. majusculus and B. vaillantii but can be told apart from the former by possession of shorter pectoral spines (13.3 – 16.2% SL vs. 15.8 – 20.7%), shorter adipose fin (46.0 – 58.0% SL vs. 38.8 – 45.8%), less deep caudal peduncle (7.1 – 7.5% SL vs. 5.6-7.0%) and larger adult size. From B. vaillantii it di…

The vernacular name ‘lancer’ is derived from the extended dorsal spine possessed by several members of the genus, which currently contains 7 species. Among them B. majusculus is most similar to B. macracanthus and B. vaillantii but can be told apart from both by possession of longer pectoral-fin spines (length 15.8 – 20.7 % SL vs. 11.5 – 16.2 %), from the former by possession of a larger adipose fi…

This species is relatively common in the aquarium trade but has been widely misidentified as the congener H. nemurus which is native to Java and may never have been exported for ornamental purposes.

Hemibagrus has been divided into a number of putative species groups which may or may not rep…

Confirmed localities include the Kabini, Bhadra and Moyar tributary systems where it was last collected in 1998, the 1980s and 1990-92, respectively.

The IUCN currently list it as Critically Endangered (possibly extinct).

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…