Orange Banded Hillstream Catfish (Akysis vespa)

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Orange Banded Hillstream Catfish

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Orange Banded Hillstream Catfish

Akysis vespa

38 Litres (10 US G.)

2.5-4.1cm (1-1.6 ")

sg

Freshwater

pH

6.0 - 7.5

20-24.4°C (68 -76 °F)

6-10 °d

2:3 M:F

Carnivore
Live Foods
Other (See article)

5-8 years

Family

Akysidae





Additional names

Orange Banded Hillstream Catfish, Orange Banded Stone Catfish


Sexing

Difficult to visually sex but has been bred in captivity. Breeding is often triggered by a large partial water change.


Tank compatibility

A generally peaceful fish which works well in an Asian hillstream biotope setting with fish such as Danios and Loaches.


Diet

Will most likely not take dry food, may be weaned on to micro pellets, but should take any small frozen or live food such as daphnia and bloodworm.


Feeding regime

Feed once or twice a day.


Environment specifics

Best kept in cool acidic to neutral conditions with a fine sand substrate with rounded river rocks and bogwood and a reasonable current. Immaculate water conditions are a must.


Behaviour

A generally peaceful small catfish which can be shy.


Identification

An unusual looking fish that can be confused with similar species including Akysis longifilis and Akysis prashadi. A. vespa is a small slender fish with small eyes and several nasal barbels. The body has thick vertical bands with olive-brown and cream-yellow. A. longifilis has longer nasal barbels than A. vespa and A. prashadi has a brown abdomen rather than yellow with A. vespa.

Pictures

External links