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Scientific Name Glyptothorax telchitta  (Hamilton, 1822)
Common Name Copper Catfish
Type Locality Hoogly River at Kalna, 23°13'30.0"N, 88°22'39.0"E, west Bengal, India [Ganges River drainage, India].
Synonym(s) Pimelodus telchitta
Pronunciation Gleep toe thor axe
Etymology The generic name comes from the Greek glyptos, meaning carved, and thorax, meaning breastplate (or the part of the body covered by it), in reference to the folds of skin comprising the thoracic adhesive apparatus. The specific epithet comes from the local name of the fish.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 100mm or 3.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Sisorid catfishes of the genus Glyptothorax Blyth are benthic inhabitants of torrential waters of rivers and streams in montane and submontane parts of tropical Asia. The members of the genus are adapted to attach themselves to rocks and boulders against strong currents by means of a thoracic adhesive apparatus comprising grooves and folded pleats of skin parallel or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body. The genus has a wide distribution, ranging from Turkey and Syria in the west, to India and China in the east, and extending further southeastward to Indonesia. With 84 nominal species, Glyptothorax are the most speciose genus of catfishes in Asia (Eschmeyer et al., 1998, Ng, 2005); 67 species were treated as valid by Thomson & Page (2006).

Distinguished by its long, slender body and fairly uniform coloration.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Ganges River drainage.
Indian waters, North Eastern India Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, North Eastern India Waters, Padma, Ganges (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Indian waters, Bengal Waters, West Bengal Waters, Hooghly (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2009.
pH 6.0 - 7.0
Temperature 16.0-24.0°C or 60.8-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Needs well oxygenated water.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Will feed on live/frozen food, but does not appear to take prepared foods. User data.
Furniture A sandy/gravel bottom and enough rocks/driftwood to partially deflect the current and for the fish to hide in.
Compatibility A peaceful species suitable for the hillstream biotope tank. Best kept in a well-oxygenated tank with strong current. Ideal tankmates include balitorine loaches such as Homaloptera, fast-swimming cyprinids such as Danio or Barilius, and smaller mastacembelids.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges, pp 185, 378.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 28 07:23 (species record created: 2001 May 04 00:00)