/bagridae/sperata/aor/1.jpg "Sperata aor(1) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/2.jpg "Sperata aor(2) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/3.jpg "Sperata aor(3) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/4.jpg "Sperata aor(4) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/5.jpg "Sperata aor(5) Adult - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/6.jpg "Sperata aor(6) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/7.jpg "Sperata aor(7) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/8.jpg "Sperata aor(8) Adult - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/9.jpg "Sperata aor(9) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/10.jpg "Sperata aor(10) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/11.jpg "Sperata aor(11) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/12.jpg "Sperata aor(12) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/13.jpg "Sperata aor(13) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/14.jpg "Sperata aor(14) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/15.jpg "Sperata aor(15) - Click to enlarge")
/bagridae/sperata/aor/16.jpg "Sperata aor(16) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sperata aor (Hamilton, 1822) |
| Common Name(s) | Indian Shovelnose Catfish |
| Type Locality | India: rivers of Bengal and upper parts of Gangetic estuaries. |
| Synonym(s) | Aorichthys aor, Macrones aor, Mystus aor, Orichthys aor, Pimelodus aor |
| Pronunciation | ss per AT ah - arr |
| Etymology | The genus is named after MA Sperat. The specific epithet is the Bengali name of the fish (aar). |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 1800mm (70.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Sperata is easily distinguished from other bagrids in having a long, depressed head and (often) a dark spot at the posterior base of the adipose fin. |
| Sexing | Males are more slender and have an elongate genital papilla in front of the anal fin. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Ganges River drainage in India, Bangladesh and Nepal; peninsular India south to the Cauvery River. Indian waters, Padma, Ganges (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Temperature | 20.0-25.0°C or 68-77°F (Show others within this range) |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Readily feeds on live or frozen foods, smaller fishes, shrimps, and prepared foods such as pellets. |
| Furniture | Provide ample driftwood for shelter. |
| Compatibility | Not suitable with smaller tankmates, as it will eat them. Territorial with conspecifics, so best kept alone. |
| Breeding | Not reported in aquaria. Spawning is said to occur before the beginning of the southwest monsoon season in India. Individuals spawn at irregular intervals throughout the reproductive season and females can produce more than 1.2 million ova. It has been suggested that the males incubate the eggs in highly vascularized, spongy skin on the ventral surface of their abdomen and then feed the newly-hatched fry with a milky-white exudate from the abdominal wall. |
| Further Information | |
| Registered Keepers | (1) arapaima, (2) Freakdaddy, (3) RickieH, (4) headbanger_jib, (5) arapaimag, (6) Seagirt, who also notes: "This guy eats like a pig. Don't leave any large rosey barbs hanging around. They will disappear rather quickly. Other than that, he's a fine cat that gets along well with others his size as long as he has a place to escape to from time to time.", (7) Redtailrob (k: 2), (8) CichlidMatt. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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Search Planet Catfish for more on Sperata aor
 - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Sperata aor on AquaticRepublic.com
 - Look up Sperata aor on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web) |
| Hits | 9480 hits. |
| Last Update | 2006 Jun 17 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00) |
Registered users: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], kupper, Maddin2007, pleco_breeder, PlecoCrazy, Shovelnose, Suckermouth
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