PlanetCatfish.com - Heteropneustes fossilis (Heteropneustidae) Cat-eLog

Dorsal view
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Albino
Albino
Albino
Albino
Habitat : A slow moving paddy canal in North India

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Heteropneustes fossilis** (Bloch, 1794)
Common Names	Fossil Catfish Gællesæk-ålemalle (Denmark), Liver Catfish, Scorpion Catfish, Stinging Catfish
Type Locality	Tranquebar [Tharangambadi], India.
Type Locality Notes	Type locality inferred from modern location of Tharangambadi, India.
Synonym(s)	Heteropneustes microps, Saccobranchus fossilis, Saccobranchus microcephalus, Saccobranchus microps, Saccobranchus singio, Silurus biserratus, Silurus fossilis, Silurus laticeps, Silurus singio
Pronunciation	foss ill iss
Etymology	Heteropneustes: From the Greek heteros, meaning other and pneo, meaning to breathe; in reference to the ability of the fish to utilize atmospheric oxygen.
Articles	- CotM 2001 October
Species Information
Size	300mm or 11.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Heteropneustes fossilis can be differentiated from H. kemratensis by having lesser anal fin rays.
Sexing	Male has a thinner ventral line due to the stockier shape of the female.
General Remarks	Burgess' Atlas wrongly labels H. microps as H. fossilis in the colour plates section, but shows H. fossilis correctly in the preceding black and white text. Some references mention the rarer Sri Lankan species H. microps. This species, which purportedly differs in that the anal and caudal fins are joined in H. microps and distinctly separate in H. fossilis, is currently considered a junior synonym. The albino form is very, very rarely available to the aquarium trade.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Asia: Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Myanmar. Indian waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Thailand Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Myanmar Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH	6.0 - 8.0
Temperature	21.0-25.0°C or 69.8-77°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Hardness up to 30 °dGH with good filtration made necessary by this fishes voracious appetite. Generally an undemanding, hardy species.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Will eat all prepared foods, feeder fish are not required. Larger adults will require larger foods such as earthworms and frozen prawns. Can be trained to accept large cichlid foods from the water surface. User data.
Furniture	Typical medium size catfish set-up with plenty of swimming space for feeding and night time activity. A choice of shady retreats should be available for the fish during the day.
Compatibility	Only sensibly housed with fish that cannot be eaten and are active swimmers. Fish that rest or are slow swimmers are "buzzed" by this catfishes nocturnal prowling. Enjoys the company of it's own kind.
Suggested Tankmates	Large barbs and similar, Asian fish. Generally, medium sized active fish.
Breeding	A sticky cluster of yellow-green eggs are laid in pits in the aquarium substrate. Both parents tend the clutch, fanning the pit to ensure water circulates around the eggs. Care continues well after the fry emerge. The fry grow rapidly and can attain lengths of greater than 80mm in a matter of months.
Breeding Reports	There are 2 breeding reports, read them all here.
Further Information
Reference	Naturgeschichte der ausländischen Fische v. 8, pp 46, Pl. 370 (fig. 2).
Registered Keepers	There are 32 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 2 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 17 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.187.62.134
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)