Where in the world live fishes in a tiny biotope all their live…

Image by Heiko Bleher  – In a tiny stream, Sungai Mungkat, in Western Kalimantan near the border with Sarawak, Indonesia Heiko Bleher found in less than one square metre of water surface and hardly 30 cm deep (see red square) a community of more then 15 different fish species living together, probably all their life. Water parameters were pH 6.50, conductivity 31 µS/cm, temperature 24.8°C. The bottom consisted of sand, leaves, driftwood, bamboo, no aquatic vegetation. With such a natural biotope, from a small river, stream or creek, as well as from small lakes around the world – I want to show the fishes that live together in nature peacefully. This can give one an idea of how to place the correct species together in a perfect community aquarium – the species that know each other, their behaviour and biology …

01_sungai-mungkatPuntius everetti was described from Poeh, Sarawak state, Borneo, East Malaysia, north of here and looks very similar. This species is also a peaceful barb of hardly 7-8 cm TL

02_sungai-mungkatPuntius lateristriga is as well a peaceful nice barb, but can grow to 10 cm Tl. Here was a juvenile

03_sungai-mungkatPuntius sp. is possibly a undescribed species living in mimicry with the other two, also peaceful and small barb

04_sungai-mungkat05_sungai-mungkatRasbora sarawakensis is also described from the Malaysian part of Borneo. Here were juveniles living with the very large adult   of 8 cm TL. Again peaceful rasborine fishes
06_sungai-mungkat07_sungai-mungkat08_sungai-mungkatRasbora spilotaenia is only known from Sumatra, but this species looks similar, and also in it juvenile and adult stage, it has a very peculiar hard and mouth shape. Community fish
 
09_sungai-mungkat10_sungai-mungkatRasbora vulcanus is also only known from Sumatra, and this looks somewhat similar and depending on the reflection of the light it has amazing colours (10). Possibly a new Rasbora, but another peaceful small community fish
  11_sungai-mungkat

12_sungai-mungkat Paracrossochilus acerus is only known from Borneo and a great algae eater

 13_sungai-mungkat

 Nemacheilus saravacensis is only known from Sarawak and possibly it is this species, a peaceful small loach

14_sungai-mungkat Glyptothorax major, in another Borneo endemic (but said to be found elsewhere), a very nice catfish which needs flowing water, wood and sandy ground, as in this biotope

15_sungai-mungkat  Clarias teijsmanni, was also in this biotope and might wander to other parts, as it can also walk short distance over land and grows to 15 cm TL and possibly more

16_sungai-mungkat

 Silurichthys marmoratus was described by NG & Ng from north of here, also in Sarawak. Possibly it is the same species. This one stays  small, hardly reaches 10-12 cm TL

17_sungai-mungkat

Mastacembelus sp. I found only one in this biotope and cannot place it. But it also did not grow more than 10-12 cm TL

18_sungai-mungkat

This snakehead variant here is very beautiful and stays small about 15 cm TL

19_sungai-mungkat 20_sungai-mungkat

21_sungai-mungkatBetta chini was described from northern Borneo, and looks somewhat similar. Living in the very shallow edges of this biotope. Probably also a mouth-brooder

22_sungai-mungkatHemirhamphodon pogonognathus is an amazing colourful belonid and would eat very tiny fry, but also does not grow large, hardly 12 cm TL

24_sungai-mungkatThis is the Sungai Mungkat, and

25_sungai-mungkat… at this red square I found all these 15 different species living together, probably most of them all their live, as many had young …

This post is also available in: Anglais Italien Allemand Espagnol Português

Laisser un commentaire

Votre adresse de messagerie ne sera pas publiée. Les champs obligatoires sont indiqués avec *

Ce site utilise Akismet pour réduire les indésirables. En savoir plus sur comment les données de vos commentaires sont utilisées.

AMAZON BUYER'S ATTENTION!!!

SINCE 1st JANUARY 2021 AMAZON CHARGES € 15,00 EXTRA - FOR ORDERS AT AQUAPRESS-BLEHER OR DIRECT AT aquapress44@gmail.com IS, A BEFORE,  EXTRA CHANGE