Periyar Garra

About

The Periyar Garra (Garra surendranathanii) is a mid-sized cyprinid native to a handful of river systems in Kerala, India, including tributaries of the Chalakudy, Periyar, and Pamba rivers. It turns up in the aquarium trade occasionally, sometimes sold under the informal label of green algae-eater, which does hint at one of its most useful qualities in a planted or community setup. Like other members of the genus, it possesses a well-developed mental disc. A modified lower lip that functions as an adhesive sucker, letting the fish hold position and feed on rock surfaces even in fast-moving water. The body is elongate and relatively shallow, and you can pick this species out by the numerous small tubercles scattered across the snout, a flat inter-orbital region, two pairs of barbels, and body scales that carry dark edges giving a subtle netted appearance. There is also a distinctive black spot at the upper edge of the gill cover. The genus Garra as a whole is taxonomically complex and still being worked out, so the exact relationships of this species to its many relatives remain a moving target. For aquarium purposes though, it is considered accessible enough for beginners and should do well with plenty of current and hard surfaces to graze.