All FishesBagridaeHyalobagrus  |  | 

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Scientific Name Hyalobagrus flavus  Ng & Kottelat, 1998
Common Name Shadow Catfish
Type Locality Danau Arang Arang in the vicinity of Muara Kompeh, 1°37'32"S, 103°47'19"E, Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Pronunciation HI ya low BAG russ - FLAH vuss
Etymology From the greek hyalos, meaning transparent, and bagrus, the name of a catfish genus frequently used to form generic names. The specific epithet comes from the Latin flavus, meaning yellow, in reference to the color in life.
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Size 44mm or 1.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The small size, translucent body and black stripe running the entire length of the body is distinctive of members of this genus.
Hyalobagrus flavus is the only species imported for the aquarium trade and is distinguished from congeners in having only half the anterior edge of the pectoral spine serrated.
Sexing Males are more slender and have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anal fin.
When gravid, the ripe ova of the females are greenish and can be seen through the translucent body wall.
General Remarks Normally found hiding under thick mats of floating grass in its natural habitat.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: currently known only from the Batang Hari drainage in Sumatra and the Mentaya basin in southern Borneo, Indonesia.
Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Sumatra Waters, Batang Hari (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Borneo Waters, Mentaya (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Data Deficient, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 5.0 - 6.2
Temperature 22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Little or no current preferred.
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Feeding Readily feeds on live/frozen foods and smaller-sized prepared foods such as micropellets, but shows a preference for the former. User data.
Furniture They do best with plenty of shade (in the form of vegetation), so a heavily planted tank is the ideal setup for these fish.
Compatibility A peaceful, diurnal shoaling species that should be kept in groups of four or more individuals.
Because of their small size and delicate nature, it is best to keep them with less boisterous small or mid-sized fish such as harlequin rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) and kuhlii loaches (Pangio spp.).
Breeding This species has been spawned. The fish lay eggs on leaves.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 9 (no. 4), pp 340, Fig. 6
Registered Keepers There are 2 registered keepers, view all "my fish" data.
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There are 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2023 Apr 24 10:13 (species record created: 2001 Apr 17 00:00)