Belodontichthys dinema • Siluridae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Belodontichthys dinema** (Bleeker, 1851)
Common Name(s)	None
Type Locality	Bandjarmasin, Borneo, Indonesia.
Synonym(s)	Belodontichthys macrochir, Wallago dinema
Pronunciation	Bee law dawn tick thees - dai neem ah
Etymology	From the Greek belos, meaning arrow, odontos, meaning tooth and ichthyos, meaning fish; in reference to the distinctive arrowhead-shaped teeth. The specific epithet comes from the Latin dis, meaning two and the Greek nema, meaning thread; in reference to the prominent maxillary barbels.
Species Information
Size	600mm (23.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Distinguished from B. truncatus in having a longer pectoral fin, head and snout.
Sexing	Males are more slender and have strong serrations on the posterior edge of the pectoral spine (females lack these serrations).
Habitat Information
Distribution	Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Sumatra Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Borneo Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, Malaysia Waters, Peninsular Malaysia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	5.6 - 7.0
Temperature	22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Clean water needed. Sensitive to bad water conditions.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Obligate piscivores. Does not seem to take any food other than live fish, which they snap up with sudden upward lunges.
Furniture	Provide large open areas as this is an actively-swimming fish. Some vegetation for it to hide in during the day will be ideal. They are good leapers, so a tight-fitting, heavy cover for the tank is necessary.
Compatibility	Best kept alone, as it will eat any other tankmates able to fit its mouth.
Breeding	Not reported.
Further Information
References	Natuurkd. Tijdschr. Neder. Indiëv. 2 - pp202
Registered Keepers	(1) Silurus. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2006 October
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Hits	16539 hits.
Last Update	2004 Feb 27 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Dec 01 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Belodontichthys dinema (Bleeker, 1851)

Common Name(s)

None

Type Locality

Bandjarmasin, Borneo, Indonesia.

Synonym(s)

Belodontichthys macrochir, Wallago dinema

Pronunciation

Bee law dawn tick thees - dai neem ah

Etymology

From the Greek belos, meaning arrow, odontos, meaning tooth and ichthyos, meaning fish; in reference to the distinctive arrowhead-shaped teeth. The specific epithet comes from the Latin dis, meaning two and the Greek nema, meaning thread; in reference to the prominent maxillary barbels.

Species Information

Size

600mm (23.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Distinguished from B. truncatus in having a longer pectoral fin, head and snout.

Sexing

Males are more slender and have strong serrations on the posterior edge of the pectoral spine (females lack these serrations).

Habitat Information

Distribution

Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.
Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Sumatra Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Borneo Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Pacific, Malaysia Waters, Peninsular Malaysia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

5.6 - 7.0

Temperature

22.0-27.0°C or 71.6-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Clean water needed. Sensitive to bad water conditions.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Obligate piscivores. Does not seem to take any food other than live fish, which they snap up with sudden upward lunges.

Furniture

Provide large open areas as this is an actively-swimming fish. Some vegetation for it to hide in during the day will be ideal. They are good leapers, so a tight-fitting, heavy cover for the tank is necessary.

Compatibility

Best kept alone, as it will eat any other tankmates able to fit its mouth.

Breeding

Not reported.

Further Information

References

Natuurkd. Tijdschr. Neder. Indiëv. 2 - pp202

Registered Keepers

(1) Silurus.

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles