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River

Teesta

9 profiles across 4 families name the Teesta as a locality.

Species
9
Families
4
Photographed
9 of 9
Difficulty rated
9 of 9
Aborichthys elongatus.

Aborichthys elongatusRed-Tailed Squirrel Loach

Nemacheilidae · Hora, 1921

Max length
75mm SL3.0in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
15–21°C59–70°F
pH
6.5–7.5

This species may be seen listed as a member of Nemacheilus or the nomen nudum Noemacheilus in older literature and is sometimes sold as 'red tailed, striped sand loach' or 'red tailed squirrel loach'. Only two other Aborichthys have been described to...

Moderate
Adult individual from the Bhadra River, Karnataka state, southern India.

Barilius bendelisis

Cyprinidae · Hamilton, 1807

Max length
200mm SL8in SL
Tank
180 × 60cm72 × 24in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
6.0–8.0

Type locality is given as 'Cedawáti [Vedawati] stream, headwaters of Krishna River near Heriuru, Mysore, India', with the species currently considered to occur throughout India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and probably Bhutan. It's also been recorded in Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka although some or all of these reports may refer to other species.

Moderate
This species prefers a soft substrate in order that it can conceal itself.

Canthophrys gongotaMoose-faced Loach

Cobitidae · Hamilton, 1822

Max length
110mm SL4in SL
Tank
90 × 30cm36 × 12in
Temp
18–22°C64–72°F
pH
6.0–7.0

Mostly known from slow-moving, relatively shallow tributaries and minor rivers with substrates of mud, sand or gravel. Aquatic plants are only occasionally present but riparian vegetation apparently grows thickly at some localities. In the Schutunga River, part of the Mansai River drinage which is itself a tributary of the Brahmaputra in West Bengal state, In...

Difficult
Subadult of Crossocheilus latius.

Crossocheilus latius

Cyprinidae · Hamilton, 1822

Max length
150mm SL6in SL
Tank
150 × 45cm60 × 18in
Temp
18–24°C64–75°F
pH
6.0–7.5

C. latius isn't often available in the trade but makes an excellent alternative to more commonly-offered members of the genus should you be lucky enough to find some. Shipments of similar-looking Indian Garra species such as G. mullya or G. gotyla sometimes contain the odd specimen. It exhibits morphological differences when compared with other members of the genus and may be assigned to a separate taxon at some point in the future.

Easy
Female specimen of Lepidocephalichthys annandalei.

Lepidocephalichthys annandalei

Cobitidae · Chaudhuri, 1912

Max length
45mm SL1.8in SL
Tank
45 × 30cm18 × 12in
Temp
22.5–26°C73–79°F
pH
5.5–7.5

Sand-dwelling loaches from the families Botiidae, Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae are also suitable but proper research is essential as some can be excessively territorial or otherwise aggressive. A community based around fishes from its natural waters could include species such as Badis badis,...

Moderate
Subadult individual from Thailand.

Puntius cholaSwamp Barb

Cyprinidae · Hamilton, 1822

Max length
130mm SL5in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
18–26°C64–79°F
pH
5.5–8.0

P. chola was retained in Puntius sensu stricto, of which members are defined by the following combination of characters: adult size usually less than 120 mm SL; maxillary barbels absent or present; rostral barbels absent; 3-4 unbranched and 8 branched dorsal-fin rays; 3 unbranched and 5 branched anal-fin rays; last unbranched dorsal-fin ray weak or strong and unserrated; lateral line complete with 22-28 pored body scales...

Easy
Specimen from the Rydak (aka Raidak) II River, West Bengal.

Schistura savonaHalf-banded Loach

Nemacheilidae · Hamilton, 1822

Max length
50mm SL2.0in SL
Tank
60 × 30cm24 × 12in
Temp
15–24°C59–75°F
pH
6.5–8.5

This species is seen in the aquarium trade on a relatively frequent basis and is sometimes sold as 'bicolor loach' in the United States. It can be distinguished from congeners by its unique colour pattern comprising 9-10 thin, yellowish bars on a dark background in the upper part of the body, and plain whitish colouration in the lower portion.

Moderate
This species was collected near Darjeeling in West Bengal state, India, but its identity is unclear.

Schistura sp. 4Grizzled Loach

Nemacheilidae · authority not recorded

Max length
100mm SL3.9in SL
Tank
120 × 30cm48 × 12in
Temp
12–20°C54–68°F
pH
7.0–8.5

This species has been collected for the aquarium hobby, albeit in small numbers at time of writing, but its identity is unclear. Though obtained from close to the type local...

Moderate
Specimens from the German aquarium trade.

Xenentodon cancilaFreshwater Needlefish

Belonidae · Hamilton, 1822

Max length
350mm SL14in SL
Tank
180 × 60cm72 × 24in
Temp
18–30°C64–86°F
pH
6.0–8.0

X. cancila is often seen referred to as 'freshwater garfish', and although it does superficially resemble the true gars of the family Lepisosteidae, it's actually a member of the Belonidae, or needlefishes, the majority of which are marine or estuarine in existence. There are currently just two species in the genus although the probable existence of a third member has been noted by Roberts (1989) among oth...

Moderate