PlanetCatfish.com - Ompok bimaculatus (Siluridae) Cat-eLog

Comparison of O. bimaculatus (above) and O. siluroides (below)
Stamp
Collected from the Tambraparani River, Tamil Nadu, India
Collected from the Tambraparani River, Tamil Nadu, India
Collected from the Tambraparani River, Tamil Nadu, India
Tungabhadra River, Karnataka, India
Tungabhadra River, Karnataka, India
Tungabhadra River, Karnataka, India

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Ompok bimaculatus** (Bloch, 1794)
Common Names	Two Spot Glass Catfish Toplettet Glasmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Tranquebar [Tharangambadi], India.
Synonym(s)	Callichrous bimaculatus, Callichrous chechra, Callichrous gangeticus, Callichrous macrophthalmus, Callichrous nebulosus, Callichrus affinis, Callichrus nebulosus, Ompak bimaculatus, Ompok siluroides, Phalacronotus siluroides, Pseudosilurus bimaculatus, Pseudosilurus macropthalmos, Pseudosilurus macropthalmus, Silurus affinis, Silurus bimaculatus, Silurus chechra, Silurus duda, Silurus microcephalus, Silurus mysoricus, Silurus nebulosus, Wallago bimaculatus, Wallago microcephalus
Pronunciation	Awm pok
Etymology	The etymology of Ompok is unclear. It is believed to be a corruption of the Indonesian name for mid-sized silurid catfishes, limpok. The specific epithet comes from the Latin bis meaning two, and macula, meaning spot; in reference to the presence of two dark spots in this species.
Articles	- CotM 2005 November
Species Information
Size	450mm or 17.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The catfish genus Ompok La Cepède, 1803, consists of medium-sized silurid fishes found in inland waters throughout South and Southeast Asia. The genus is traditionally diagnosed by the presence of a short dorsal fin with 4 rays, strongly forked caudal fin, subcutaneous eye that is set immediately posterior to the mouth rictus and two patches of palatal teeth (Weber & de Beaufort, 1913). Bornbusch (1995) showed that Ompok, as currently understood, is probably paraphyletic. The two spots are found above and behind the pectoral-fin base and the other at the base of the caudal peduncle. The fish often idebntified as O. bimaculatus (and most commonly encountered in the aquarium trade) is a Southeast Asian species, Ompok siluroides which has a rounder head and a mottled brown colouration, while O. bimaculatus are silvery and have a sharper head.
Sexing	Males are more slender and have strong serrations on the posterior edge of the pectoral spine (females lack these serrations).
Habitat Information
Distribution	Asia: Afghanistan to China, Thailand and Borneo. Endangered status in the Western Ghats, India. Thailand Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Cambodia waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, Malaysia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Indian waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Bangladesh 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) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Near Threatened , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2009.
pH	6.4 - 7.4
Temperature	20.0-26.0°C or 68-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily feeds on live/frozen foods and other prepared foods such as pellets. Will also eat small fishes/shrimps. User data.
Furniture	Provide plenty of hiding spaces in the form of driftwood or PVC pipes. Prefers an area of open water when active. Current preferred.
Compatibility	A relatively peaceful species that is compatible with most fish of equal size or larger. Not safe with small fishes.
Breeding	Not known in the aquarium. Has been bred using hormone injections in India. See also Photoperiod manipulation leads to successful voluntary captive spawning of butter catfish Ompok bimaculatus during the non-spawning breeding season.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Naturgeschichte der ausländischen Fische v. 8, pp 24, Pl. 364.
Registered Keepers	There are 11 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 4 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.7.113.792
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2005 Apr 17 00:00)