Stinging catfish
Heteropneustes fossilis
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The stinging catfish from southern Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar) lives in ponds, ditches, swamps and marshes, sometimes in muddy rivers, and tolerates slightly brackish water. It breathes air with the help of an air sac. Its pectoral-fin spines carry venom and the sting is very painful: handle with care. It breeds in the monsoon season. It reaches 30 centimetres and is farmed for food.
- Scientific name
- Heteropneustes fossilis
- Family
- Heteropneustidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Heteropneustidae
- Order
- Siluriformes
- Synonyms
- Clarisilurus kemratensis, Heteropneustes microps, Saccobranchus fossilis, Saccobranchus microcephalus, Saccobranchus microps, Saccobranchus singio, Silurus biserratus, Silurus fossilis, Silurus laticeps, Silurus singio
Origin
- Native region
- Ásia
Water
- Temperature
- 21–25 °C
- pH
- 6–8
- General hardness (GH)
- 5–30 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 30 cm
- Lifespan
- 17.5 years
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 243 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 120 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social life
- School
- Swimming level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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