Asian Stream Catfish

About

Found in the fast-moving streams of the Sittang River drainage in southern Myanmar, Akysis portellus is a dwarf catfish belonging to the family Akysidae, a group commonly called Asian stream catfishes. It barely reaches an inch and a half at the outside, yet packs in a lot of personality for its size. Like all akysids, it carries venom glands at the base of its dorsal and pectoral spines. Nothing dangerous to a healthy adult, but painful enough that you'll want to use a container rather than bare hands when moving this fish around the tank. The body is a typical akysid pattern: bumpy, tuberculate skin dressed in yellowish blotches or bands over a brownish base, giving it excellent camouflage among leaf litter and gravel. Despite being labeled aggressive in some references, this species is actually quite tolerant of its own kind and can be kept in groups. The aggression label seems more relevant to its predatory feeding style than to social behavior. It simply should not be housed with fish small enough to become a meal. Miniature schooling species, small loaches, and similarly sized catfishes from related families all make reasonable tankmates. Breeding has not been formally documented for this species, though related akysids spawn in a body-wrapping embrace, a useful clue for anyone willing to attempt it.