Description:Dorsal soft rays (total):
5-6; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 33. Distinguished
from all its congeners by the following combination
of characters: round head when viewed dorsally; presence
of 1+3 gill rakers on the first branchial arch and
4-5 serrae on the posterior edge of the pectoral spine;
depth of caudal peduncle 7.3-14.1 % SL; length of
maxillary barbel 61-121% HL; length of inner mandibular
barbel 33-74% HL; and caudal fin emarginate. Aquarium
Care: Akysis are easy to keep for
any decent fishkeeper. You can keep in small tanks
(30cm wide x 20cm high x 30cm deep) with a sand bottom,
small pipes, and caves. They will either bury themselves
in the sand or hide in caves and pipes. They are not
usually active during the day but will spring to action
and eat voraciously and crazily if food is put in
the tank. Diet: They will eat bloodworm,
chopped earthworms, whiteworm, daphnia, and sinking
pellets (although they seem to prefer live or frozen
food). Etymology: The genus name
Akysis: A = without; kysis = bladder,
in reference to the lack of a swimbladder. The
specific name ephippifer: ephippium, saddle;
fero, to bear, referring to the saddle-shaped markings
on body.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Akysidae
Distribution:
Asia:
Thailand; Phitsanulork Prov. Upper Choa Phraya. Type
locality: Cambodia: Stung Santréa,
40 km from Pomnac.
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