Blue Neon Sheatfish

About

Found in the turbid large rivers, streams, canals, and lakes of the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo, this sizeable catfish, Kryptopterus apogon, is a member of a small genus distinguished by the complete absence of a dorsal fin, short maxillary barbels that don't extend past the gill cover, and 9 to 10 pelvic fin rays. Juveniles occasionally turn up in the trade under names like 'blue neon sheatfish' or 'metallic sheatfish', often with little warning about what buyers are getting into. Adults can reach genuinely impressive lengths, and in nature these fish hunt pelagic prey in the mid to upper water column. Their annual cycle involves spawning just before seasonal water levels rise, after which they move into flooded riverside forests and floodplains. Young fish return to the main river channels by October. Despite a peaceful temperament toward tankmates too large to eat, this species poses a real practical challenge. Only a small number of private keepers have the facilities to house it properly long-term, and most home aquariums simply cannot accommodate it. Juveniles may be manageable early on, but potential buyers should think very carefully before acquiring one.