Burmese Hill Trout

About

Sometimes sold under the trade names 'Burmese hill trout' or 'striped hill trout', this active cyprinid from the fast-flowing hill streams of Manipur, India is recognizable by its eight or nine dark blue vertical bars along the body, a prominent dark blotch at the base of the tail, and a single pair of short rostral barbels. In the wild it inhabits rocky and gravelly stream beds with clear, well-oxygenated, moderately cool water, and the aquarium setup should reflect that with good flow and plenty of open water for swimming. Despite the beginner care rating, this fish is not a straightforward community candidate. It is an exceptionally fast swimmer and an aggressive feeder that will easily outcompete more timid or slow-moving species, and very small fish risk being treated as food. The best approach is to pair it with robust, similarly-sized pelagic cyprinids and confident bottom-dwellers like Garra or Botia. Opsarius dogarsinghi is gregarious but forms a pecking order within the group, so keeping five or more individuals is important. Too few and the weaker fish can be harassed relentlessly. It has been bred in captivity, though detailed accounts are limited. Given the tank size needed and its specific social dynamics, a bit of planning goes a long way with this species.