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 hen you think of the members of the Bagridae family your mind wanders to the big and nasty boys like Hemibagrus wyckii and Hemibagrus wyckioides, but there are a few inconspicuous species, and one we are covering this month (October 2007) is a pretty little bagrid which some of you may remember years ago as Chandramara chandramara, but in 2001 a new genus name Rama was erected by Ng & Kottelat to cover this monotypic species but it has now (2023) been moved back to Rama chandramara. The history of this species has been much confused with Jayaram in 1981 and Mo in 1991 relating this species to a synonym of Batasio. Will it change in the future...who knows!.

Rama chandramara

The adipose fin in R. Chandramara is much smaller than in any species of Batasio and oar-like (a character independently shared with Neotropius and schilbeids), and the genus is further diagnosed by the presence of a prominent anterolateral process of the pelvic girdle (absent in all Batasio species), and fewer vertebrae (32–34 v. at least 35). In India the common name for this species is the 'Asian Cory' probably pointing to the steep head, to the insertion of the dorsal fin, which is reminicent of the Corydoras genus of South America.

Depending on the substrate Rama chandramara will sport different colour patterns as you can see from the two images: the above on a dark base and below on a sand base. In its own environment it inhabits, ditches, streams and canals.

Rama chandramara - on a sand substrate

This is not the easiest species to keep in the aquarium and can prove delicate. Good water quality is a must to be able to enjoy this small Bagrid to the full. Tank decorations would be a planted aquarium with hiding places to make it feel more comfortable in its surroundings. Will be happier if you can keep them in groups of at least four as they will do better in their own company.

Remarks: This species can be found on online searches, as Chandramara chandramara or Rama rama, but Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes has Rama chandramara as valid (2023).

Hummingbird Catfish, Asian Cory

Pimelodus chandramara, Rama rama, Pimelodus rama, Leiocassis rama, Chandramara chandramara

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Asia: Base of eastern part of Himalaya, and Sarda River basin. Type locality: Atreyi River, India.

5.5cm. (2¼ins)

18-22°C (63-71°F)

Body short, compressed, abdomen rounded. Head small, compressed. Snout obtusely rounded. Mouth subterminal, moderately wide. Eyes large, inferior (visible from below ventral surface of the head). Jaws subequal. Lips thin, plain, may be fimbriated or with sensory pores. Teeth on jaws and palate in broad villiform bands. Four pairs of barbels; one each of maxillary, nasal and two of mandibular, all slender, shorter than head, may be coloured. Caudal fin forked, lobes equal. Lateral line complete, with a few pores above pectoral fin base.

Yellowish body speckled with dark to light brown spots. Broad dark brown lateral line with two other thiner lines above and below. All fins hyaline with dark first hard rays.

Like the South American Corydoras they are also peaceful and and would do fine in a community aquarium with smaller compatriots such as small Tetras and Rasboras.

Not reported

Females are heavier looking and the males are more slender and have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anus.

They do prefer live food such as white worm and tubifex but will also accept frozen food such as bloodworm.

Anterolateral: Pertaining to the direction or position between the front and side of an object.
Mandibular barbels: Pertaining to the lower jaw. (mandibular barbels).
Maxillary barbels: Pertaining to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels)
Monotypic: Having only one species, such as a monotypic family of fishes.
Villiform: Elongated cardiform teeth.

Rama: Named after the legendary Indian king regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu.
chandramara: Hindi, Chandragupta Maurya, a king fron northern India, founder of Maurya empire, 322-298.

Jayaram, K.C., The Fresh Water Fishes of the Indian Region. Narendra Publishing House, 1999.
Ng, H. H., The identity of Batasio tengana (Hamilton, 1822), with the description of two new species of Batasio from north-eastern India (Teleostei: Bagridae).

Photo Credits

Top: © Allan James @ 
Bottom: © Adrian Taylor