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atasio species are small, laterally compressed bagrid catfishes generally found in fast-flowing hill streams throughout South Asia, Myanmar, the Salween and Mae Khlong drainages of Thailand and the northern Malay Peninsula. Batasio havmolleri (Smith, 1931) is currently considered a junior synonym of B. fluviatilis.

Batasio fluviatilis

They are diagnosed (together with Chandramara) from other members of the Bagridae in possessing large sensory pores on the head, a narrow mental region, the transversely elongated, bar-like entopterygoid, and the close contact of the metapterygoid with the quadrate (Mo, 1991). Batasio is distinguished from Chandramara by the absence (vs. presence) of a pair of prominent posterior processes on the anterior part of the vomer.

 

Batasio fluviatilis

 

Batasio fluviatilis Occurs in rivers and streams with moderate to swift current and a predominantly rocky bottom; less often in slow-flowing streams with a muddy substrate. Hides among stones or submerged vegetation during the day and comes out at night to feed.

 

Batasio fluviatilis - Adult with young - note the juvenile body pattern

 

U. K. aquarist Stuart Brown has successfully spawned B. fluviatilis. Below is a short account of his thoughts and above image shows an adult and youngsters. As with most catfish the juveniles will show a different colour pattern until growing into adulthood.

"Cleaning out the filter sock on my sump and I find three stowaways. Obviously the big one ( inch and a bit) is from the first spawning. I would say the 2 smaller ones are about 2-3 weeks old. Seems large water changes are the trigger, coupled with the changing weather perhaps". (Original text from FB Group: Catfishes of the World.)

 

None

Mystus havmolleri, Mystus stigmaturus, Batasio havmolleri

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Asia: Malay Peninsula, south of isthmus of Kra and north of Perak River basin and Terengganu River. Type locality: Klong Thalerng near Ronpibun, Peninsular Siam.

7.0cm (2¾ins)

18-23°C (63-73°F)

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 4-5; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Differs from Batasio merianiensis by having length of adipose fin base 30.0-33.3% SL (vs. 22.2) and eye diameter 18.2-23.5% SL (vs. 25.9).

Not really suitable for your usual community tank as they will need special conditions such as good water flow and a cooler temperature. Good water conditions should be adhered to at all times with regular water changes to keep organic waste down to a minimum. A sand and gravel mixed substrate with scattered rocks/boulders and root works would be ideal for a good water flow. In their natural habitat plants will not be present but hardy plants such as Microsorum, Bolbitis or Anubias spp., can be grown attached to the decor. Not especially competitive and should not be kept with much larger or more aggressive fishes. Suitably-sized, peaceful, schooling cyprinids are ideal, or if geography isn't’t an issue many characids and livebearers should also work. In addition, balitorid loaches from genera such as Gastromyzon, Pseudogastromyzon and Homaloptera are suitable, and some members of the families Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae should also be ok but proper research is essential as some can be excessively aggressive/territorial or simply grow too large. (Source: SeriouslyFish)

An egg scatterer. See above.

Feeds readily on any type of the usual fish foods, flakes, granulated food, frozen or live food

Batasio: From the local (Bengali) name of the fish (batasio or batashi).
fluviatilis: Of a river, presumably referring to the type locality, described as a “stream”.

Darshan, A. , N. Anganthoibi, and W. Vishwanath, 2011 - Zootaxa 2901: 52-58 Batasio convexirostrum, a new species of catfish (Teleostei: Bagridae) from Koladyne basin, India.
FB Group: Catfishes of the World.
Ng, H.H. and M. Kottelat 2001 A review of the genus Batasio (Teleostei: Bagridae) in Indochina, with the description of B. tigrinus sp. n. from Thailand. Rev. Suisse Zool. 108(3):495-511.
Ng, H.H. and M. Kottelat 2007 Batasio feruminatus, a new species of bagrid catfish from Myanmar (Siluriformes: Bagridae), with notes on the identity of B. affinis and B. fluviatilis. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 289-300.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.
www.seriouslyfish.com

Photo Credits

Top:       © Piscesilm
Middle:   © Allan James @ courtesy of

Bottom: © Stuart Brown