Kubuna Hardyhead

About

The Kubuna Hardyhead (Craterocephalus randi) is a small, streamlined fish native to the freshwaters of central-southern New Guinea, with its range spanning from the Kubuna River in Papua New Guinea westward to Lake Jamur in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. It also turns up in the Balimo Lagoon and the upper drainages of the Fly-Strickland and Morehead river systems. In the wild it favors clear rivers and smaller tributary streams with substrates ranging from mud and sand to rocky bottoms. The kind of clean, well-oxygenated water that tells you something about what it needs in captivity. Like most hardyheads, this species has a torpedo-shaped body and a lively, darting swimming style that really comes to life when kept in a proper group. Being an omnivore, it accepts a varied diet without much fuss. That said, it sits in the intermediate care bracket, partly because replicating its preference for clean, moderately cool water takes some attention. A well-maintained, longer tank with good filtration and a school of at least six or more individuals will bring out the best in this species. It remains relatively obscure in the hobby, which is a shame given how active and interesting a group of them can be.