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Chela laubuca (Hamilto-Buchanan, 1822)
Indian hatchetfish
Picture by Choy Heng Wah
Original description: Cyprinus (Chela) laubuca Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822, Fishes of Ganges: 260,384
Type specimen: Cyprinus (Chela) laubuca
Type locality: Ponds in northern parts of Bengal.
Distribution: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra
Habitat: Abundantly found in ponds, tanks, and small streams
Characters: Body is deep and compressed. Abdomen is keeled between and behind pelvic fins. Mouth is slightly oblique, its clef not extending to front edge of eye. Pectoral fins are large and wing-like; outer pelvic fin ray strongly produced. Lateral line is complete. The color is translucent, shining silver to greenish-grey with a violet luster on caudal peduncle and steel-blue vertical markings on the sides of body. The back of the body is darker, with a brassy glean. Green or sometimes deep black longitudinal strip is present, starting from before the level of dorsal fin along flank to base of caudal fin. At the end of the stripe, there is deep black, golden edged blotch. Fins are yellow, often light orange or brownish. Note: The bodies of the Myanmar specimens are much deeper and more compressed.
Sex differences: Not easy to sex.
Aquarium keeping: Tank size required is 60 x 45 x 30 cm. Water quality for keeping the fish is not very critical, but pH 6.8 and moderately hard is better. Live foods is preferable compared to flakes and pellets. It can be kept in community tank.
Spawning: Not recorded for breeding the fish in Myanmar.
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Myanmar Freshwater Fishes |
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Hein Aquarium |