Shadow Catfish

Hyalobagrus ornatus, also known as the Shadow Catfish, is a species of bagrid catfish found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. It occurs in the Muar River basin in the southern Malay Peninsula of Malaysia and Thailand and in the Kapuas Basin in western Borneo. Its habitat is streams and peat bogs. Characteristic of the bagrid catfish family are the scaleless, elongated body and the barbed spines on the pectoral and dorsal fins. Hyalobagrus ornatus is transparent to yellow in color and has a more or less pronounced dark longitudinal band that extends from the base of the caudal fin to the tip of the nose.

Care in the aquarium

In the aquarium, the Shadow Catfish feels most comfortable in the company of its conspecifics. For a group of at least 6 animals, the aquarium volume should be at least 60 liters. The water should be very clean, have a medium current and be between 22 and 28°C. Although filtering through peat is welcome, it is not necessary. The Shadow Catfish can react sensitively to contaminated water, which is why regular water changes are essential. The substrate should be relatively fine and not sharp-edged. Many hiding places made of roots and dense edge plants ensure his well-being. This peaceful catfish species can easily be socialized with other peaceful, similarly sized fish.

Feeding

In nature, the Shadow Catfish has a primarily carnivorous diet, eating small aquatic creatures such as insect larvae. Ideally, live and frozen food such as mosquito larvae or enchytraea are fed in the aquarium. Protein-containing granules or tabs are usually accepted without any problems.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

The females of the Shadow Catfish are usually a little fuller than their male counterparts and can be recognized by the green eggs visible through the transparent abdominal wall when they are ready to spawn. As of now, very little is known about breeding this species in aquariums.