AquaticRepublic.com - Phalacronotus bleekeri (Siluridae) All Fishes

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Phalacronotus bleekeri** (Günther, 1864)
Common Name	Bleeker's Sheatfish
Type Locality	Thailand.
Synonym(s)	Cryptopterus bleekeri, Kryptopterus bleekeri, Micronema bleekeri
Pronunciation	blee kehr aye
Etymology	Named after Pieter Bleeker, who contributed much to the knowledge of Southeast Asian ichthyology.
Species Information
Size	600mm or 23.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Head 4 2/3 times in SL; vomerine teeth in smoothly curved band; short maxillary barbel not extending beyond jaw; mandibular barbels shorter than eye width; caudal peduncle lacking dark blotch at its base. Body depth 5.1-5.9 times in SL. Anal fin rays 77-85. It is not easy to distinguish the species of Phalacronotus reliably all the time.
Sexing	Males are more slender and have strong serrations on the posterior edge of the pectoral spine (females lack these serrations).
Habitat Information
Distribution	Asia: Cambodia and Thailand to Malaysia. Thailand Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Cambodia waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, Malaysia 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 2011.
pH	6.0 - 7.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily feeds on live/frozen foods and other prepared foods such as pellets. Will also eat small fishes/shrimps. User data.
Furniture	This fish is fairly active and needs open spaces to swim in. Provide plenty of vegetation for it to hide in during the day.
Compatibility	A relatively peaceful species that is compatible with most larger fish. Not safe with small fishes.
Breeding	Undertakes lateral migrations from the Mekong River into smaller tributaries and into the floodplains at the onset of the flood season, returning to the main river channel when the water starts to recede at the beginning of the dry season. Migrations are triggered by the first rainfall at the end of the dry season, as well as water level changes. Lunar cycle affects also the movements. Returns to the river from the floodplain and tributaries on, or immediately before, the full moon Eggs are observed in May-September. Not reported in aquaria.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum v. 5, pp 44.
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 is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
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	Look up P. bleekeri on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up P. bleekeri on Fishbase
	Look up P. bleekeri on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. bleekeri on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.7.280.889
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2005 May 04 00:00)