Batasio travancoria
Malabar Batasio
Classification
Order: Siluriformes Family: Bagridae
Distribution
Described from ‘Peruntenaruvi’, a tributary of the Pamba River in Kottayam district, Kerala state, southwestern India, and also known from the Chittar and Kallada drainages. The species is endemic to southern Kerala.
Habitat
Batasio spp. are obligate inhabitants of headwater streams and the upper reaches of smaller rivers characterised by shallow, fast-flowing, highly-oxygenated stretches of riffles and runs broken up by pools or cascades in some cases.
Substrates are normally composed of smaller rocks, sand and gravel with jumbles of boulders or exposed bedrock, and while riparian/stream-side vegetation and patches of submerged leaf litter are common features aquatic plants aren’t usually present.
During periods of high rainfall some such streams may become temporarily turbid due to suspended material dislodged by increased (sometimes torrential) flow rate and water depth.
Maximum Standard Length
90 – 100 mm.
Aquarium SizeTop ↑
A tank with base dimensions of 120 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent should be the smallest considered.
Maintenance
Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions but largely unsuitable for the ‘general’ community aquarium. We recommend keeping it in a set-up designed to resemble a flowing river with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, gravel and some large water-worn boulders.
This can be further furnished with driftwood branches, roots and tough aquatic plants such as Microsorum, Bolbitis or Anubias spp., which can be grown attached to the décor.
Like many species that naturally inhabit running waters it’s intolerant to the accumulation of organic wastes and requires spotless water at all times in order to thrive.
It’s also essential to provide sufficient levels of dissolved oxygen and water movement using a combination of canister filters, powerheads, etc., particularly if the aim is for the fish to breed. Weekly water changes of 30-50% should also be considered mandatory.
Water Conditions
Temperature: 18 – 25 °C
pH: 6.0 – 7.0
Hardness: 36 – 215 ppm
Diet
Likely to feed small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and other zooplankton in nature, and the captive diet should therefore comprise largely of small live and/or frozen chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Tubifex, Artemia, mosquito larvae, etc.
Some success has also been had using prepared, sinking foods though newly-imported wild specimens may refuse them initially.
Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑
Not especially competitive and should not be kept with much larger or more aggressive fishes. Suitably-sized, peaceful, schooling cyprinids are ideal, or if geography isn’t an issue many characids and livebearers should also work.
Akysid or sisorid catfishes from genera such as Erithistes, Erethistoides, Hara, Pseudolaguvia and many Glyptothorax spp. are recommended for the lower levels.
In addition, balitorid loaches from genera such as Gastromyzon, Pseudogastromyzon and Homaloptera are suitable, and some members of the families Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae should also be ok but proper research is essential as some can be excessively aggressive/territorial or simply grow too large.
Sexual Dimorphism
Unknown. In some congeners males are reported to possess a clearly visibly, elongate genital papilla anterior to the anal fin.
Reproduction
Success has been achieved with at least two other members of the genus. Spawning can apparently be triggered by performing one or more large, 50-70%, water changes with cool water once the fish appear to be in spawning condition. The eggs are scattered randomly and take approximately 2 days to hatch.
NotesTop ↑
The only other described member of the genus native to southwestern India is B. sharavtiensis which occurs a little further north than B. travancoria in Karanataka state.
The two are easily distinguished by colour pattern in that B. travancoria possesses a darkish midlateral stripe and a poorly-defined, but normally visible, post-opercular spot, whereas B. sharavtiensis has no such markings and is essentially patternless. B. sharavtiensis also has a noticeably longer adipose-fin which runs almost confluent with the dorsal-fin.
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; metapterygoid in close contact with quadrate but not connected to the hyomandibular.
References
- Bhatt, A. and K. C. Jayaram, 2004 - Zoos' Print Journal 19(2): 1334-1342
A new species of the genus Batasio Blyth (Siluriformes: Bagridae) from Sharavati River, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. - Darshan, A. , N. Anganthoibi, and W. Vishwanath, 2011 - Zootaxa 2901: 52-58
Batasio convexirostrum, a new species of catfish (Teleostei: Bagridae) from Koladyne basin, India.
