AquaticRepublic.com - Glyptothorax telchitta (Sisoridae) All Fishes

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Close-up of head
Microscopic close-up view of tubercules on skin.
Albino specimen.
Video
Ganges Drainage, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India
Ganges Drainage, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India

All Fishes Data Sheet
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)	Glyptosternum telchitta, Glyptothorax telchitta telchitta, 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.
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.
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) Login to view the map.
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.
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.
Further Information
Reference	An account of the fishes found in the river Ganges, pp 185, 378.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Look up G. telchitta on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up G. telchitta on Fishbase
	Look up G. telchitta on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up G. telchitta on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.20.170.576
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:40 (species record created: 2001 May 04 00:00)